Photos of Israel: Early 20th Century Palestine

The Fouad Debbas Collection is the private collection of one man, Fouad Debbas, who studied engineering and got passionate about gathering images of his past and his region. Debbas (Lebanese) spent 26 years (from 1975 until his sudden death in 2001) collecting all images that concerned the Middle East, with a special interest in Lebanon. He masterminded his collection, classifying his images by photographs/editors/subjects, and produced two important books on postcards representing Beirut and photography in Lebanon from 1848 to 1914. His collection is a reference for art historians, historians, urbanists and all Lebanese eager to understand its heritage better. Photographs produced by Maison Bonfils during its establishment in Beirut in 1867 up to the first decade of the 20th century. Landscapes, Portraits of Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, and a few images of Turkey, Smyrna, or Greece. Photographs on glass (glass plates positives and negatives), loose albumin prints conserved in the portfolio, photographic albums, cartes de visite and cabinet cards, and stereoscopic views. Images depicting the late 19th century Middle East, with an 'orientalist' perspective, sometimes a romantic approach, were produced for the European market. 

All images used with permission from the British Library Endangered Archives Collection. 

Acre

Acre (c. 1867-1914)

Akko

Akko (c. 1867-1914)

The al-Aqsa Mosque

The al-Aqsa Mosque (c. 1867-1914)

The al-Aqsa Mosque (c. 1867-1914)

The al-Aqsa Mosque (c. 1867-1914)

The Arch of the Ecce Homo Church

The Arch of the Ecce Homo Church (c. 1867-1914)

The Arch of the Ecce Homo Church (c. 1893)

The Arch of the Ecce Homo Church (c. 1867-1914)

Armenian Church

An Armenian Church (c. 1885)

Sanctuary in an Armenian Church (c. 1867-1914)

Bedouins

Bedouins (c. 1867-1914)	A Bedouin Shiek (c. 1867-1914)	Individuals Outside of a Bedouin Tent (c. 1867-1914)
Bedouins With Their Children (c. 1867-1914)

Bethany

Bethany (c. 1867-1914)

Bethany (c. 1867-1914)

Bethlehem

Bethlehem (c. 1867-1914)	Bethlehem (c. 1867-1914)	Bethlehem (c. 1867-1914)
Bethlehem (c. 1886)	Bethlehem (c. 1867-1914)	Bethlehem Church (c. 1867-1914)
Bethlehem Grotto of Nativity (c. 1867-1914)	Bethlehem Merchants Selling Rosaries (c. 1867-1914)	Pilgrims Entering Bethlehem (c. 1867-1914)
View of Bethlehem from David's Well (c. 1867-1914)

Camels

Camel Carrying Mail (c. 1867-1914)	Camel Drivers (c. 1867-1914)	Camel Drivers (c. 1867-1914)
Camel Plowing (c. 1893)

Church of Nativity

Church of Nativity (c. 1867-1914)

Church of Nativity (c. 1886)

Cave of Nativity

Cave of Nativity (c. 1867-1914)

Cave of Nativity Manger (c. 1867-1914)

Church of the Ascencion

Church of the Ascencion (c. 1867-1914)

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Greek Cathedral in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)	Facade of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)	Church of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)
Greek Cathedral in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)	Gates of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)	Church of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)
Church of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1867-1914)	Church of the Holy Sepulcher (c. 1886)

Church of St John

Church of St John (c. 1867-1914)

Church of St John (c. 1867-1914)

Dalieh

Dalieh (c. 1867-1914)	Dalieh (c. 1867-1914)	Dalieh (c. 1867-1914)
Dalieh Front View (c. 1867-1914)	Dalieh Rear View (c. 1867-1914)	Dalieh Sitting Room (c. 1867-1914)
Dalieh Vineyard (c. 1867-1914)	Men at Dalieh (c. 1867-1914)

Damascus Gate

Damascus Gate (c. 1867-1914)

Damascus Gate (c. 1867-1914)

David's Gate

David's Gate (c. 1867-1914)

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea and the Judean Hills (c. 1867-1914)

The Dead Sea (c. 1867-1914)

The Dead Sea (c. 1867-1914)

The Dome of the Rock

Details on the Dome of the Rock (c. 1867-1914)	The Dome of the Rock (c. 1867-1914)	Inside the Dome of the Rock (c. 1867-1914)
Inside the Dome of the Rock (c. 1867-1914)	The Dome of the Rock (c. 1867-1914)

Druze

Chief Druze in Dalieh (c. 1867-1914)	Druze Eating a Meal (c. 1867-1914)	Druze in Dalieh Evening Roll Call (c. 1867-1914)
Druze in Dalieh (c. 1867-1914)	Druze Women (c. 1867-1914)	Druze Women Gathering Stones (c. 1867-1914)
Druze Women Gathering Stones (c. 1867-1914)

Farmers

Farmer Plowing His Field (c. 1893)

The Field of Blood

The Field of Blood (c. 1867-1914)

The Field of Blood (c. 1867-1914)

The Field of Boaz

The Field of Boaz (c. 1867-1914)

Fountain of Elisee

Fountain of Elisee (c. 1867-1914)

Fountain of the Virgin

Fountain of the Virgin (c. 1867-1914)

Galilee

Galilee (c. 1867-1914)

Gethsemene

Gethsemene (c. 1867-1914)	Gethsemene (c. 1867-1914)	Gethsemene (c. 1867-1914)
Olive Tree in the Garden of Gethsemane (c. 1867-1914)

The Golden Gate

The Golden Gate (c. 1867-1914)	The Golden Gate (c. 1867-1914)	The Golden Gate (c. 1893)
The Golden Gate (c. 1893)

Haifa

Haifa (c. 1867-1914)	Haifa (c. 1867-1914)	Home in Haifa (c. 1867-1914)
Home in Haifa (c. 1867-1914)	Haifa Family (c. 1867-1914)	Haifa Family (c. 1867-1914)
Haifa Family (c. 1867-1914)	Haifa Family (c. 1867-1914)

Hebron

Hebron (c. 1874)

Hebron (c. 1874)

Hezekiah Reservoir

Hesekiah Reservoir (c. 1867-1914)

Jaffa

Jaffa (c. 1867-1914)	Jaffa (c. 1867-1914)	Boatmen in Jaffa (c. 1867-1914)
Jaffa Bazaar (c. 1867-1914)	Jaffa Bazaar (c. 1867-1914)	Jaffa Sea View (c. 1867-1914)
Jaffa Sea View (c. 1867-1914)	Jaffa (c. 1867-1914)	Fortress at Jaffa Gate (c. 1867-1914)
Jaffa Gate (c. 1867-1914)	Jaffa Gate Entry Into Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)	Jaffa Gate (c. 1867-1914)

Jeremiah's Cave

Jeremiah's Cave (c. 1867-1914)

Jericho

Jericho (c. 1867-1914)	Jericho (c. 1867-1914)	Jericho (c. 1867-1914)
Jericho (c. 1867-1914)	Jericho (c. 1867-1914)

Jerusalem

Jerusalem (c. 1886)	Entrance to the Fortress, Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)	Jerusalem From the Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)
Jerusalem From the Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)	Jerusalem From the Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)	Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)
Panorama of Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)	Panorama of Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)	Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Jewish Women

Jewish Women in Costume (c. 1893)

The Jordan River

The Jordan River (c. 1867-1914)	The Jordan River in Bethlehem (c. 1867-1914)	The Jordan River (c. 1867-1914)
The Jordan River (c. 1867-1914)

Joseph's Tomb

Joseph's Tomb (c. 1867-1914)

Lane Leading to Herod's Palace

Lane Leading to Herod's Palace (c. 1867-1914)

Lane Leading to Herod's Palace (c. 1867-1914)

Lepers

Lepers in Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Lod

Lod (c. 1867-1914)

The Marsaba Convent

The Marsaba Convent (c. 1867-1914)

The Marsaba Convent (c. 1867-1914)

Merchants

Street Merchants in Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Merchants Selling Legumes in Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Peasant Near Haifa (c. 1867-1914)

Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel (c. 1867-1914)

Mount Carmel Convent (c. 1867-1914)

Mount of Olives

Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)	Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)	Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)
Mount of Olives (c. 1867-1914)

Mount Tabor

Mount Tabor (c. 1867-1914)

Mosque of Omar

Mosque of Omar (c. 1867-1914)

Mosque of Omar (c. 1867-1914)

Mosque of Omar (c. 1893)

Nain in Galilee

Nain in Galilee (c. 1867-1914)

Nablus

Nablus (c. 1867-1914)

Nazareth

Nazareth (c. 1867-1914)

Nazareth (c. 1867-1914)

Neapolis and Mount Erbal

Neapolis and Mount Erbal (c. 1867-1914)

Oak of Abraham, Hebron

Oak of Abraham, Hebron (c. 1867-1914)

Pool of Bethesda

Pool of Bethesda (c. 1867-1914)

Pool of Bethesda (c. 1867-1914)

Pool of Siloam

Pool of Siloam (c. 1867-1914)

Pool of Siloam (c. 1867-1914)

Pulpit of the Cadi-Borhan-ed-din

Details on the Pulpit of the Cadi Borhan-ed-din (c. 1867-1914)

Rachel's Tomb

Rachel's Tomb (c. 1867-1914)

Rameleh

Rameleh, View From The Tower (c. 1867-1914)

Rameleh (c. 1867-1914)

Rameleh, Route to Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Ramla

Ramla (c. 1867-1914)

Reservoir of Solomon

Reservoir of Solomon (c. 1867-1914)

Robinson's Arch

Robinson's Arch, Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Samaria

Sebestieh, Samaria (c. 1867-1914)

Siloam

Siloam (c. 1867-1914)

Solomon's Pools

Solomon's Pools (c. 1874)

Station 5

Station 5 (c. 1867-1914)

Stations 7&8

Stations 7&8 Calvary Greek Altar (c. 1867-1914)

St. Anne's Church

St. Anne's Church (c. 1867-1914)

St. Anne's Church (c. 1867-1914)

St. Elias Convent

St. Elias Convent (c. 1867-1914)

St. Jean of the Desert Monastery

St. Jean of the Desert Monastery (c. 1867-1914)

St. Jean of the Desert Monastery (c. 1867-1914)

The Stone of Unction

Stone of Unction (c. 1867-1914)

Stone of Unction (c. 1867-1914)

The Temple Mount

The Temple Mount (c. 1867-1914)

Tiberias

Tiberias (c. 1867-1914)

Tiberias (c. 1867-1914)

Tiberias (c. 1874)

Tomb of Absalom

Tomb of Absalom (c. 1893)

Tomb of Absalom (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of David

Tomb of David (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of David, Room Where the Last Supper Took Place (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of Lazarus

Tomb of Lazarus (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of the Kings of Judah Courtyard

Tomb of the Kings of Judah Courtyard (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of the Kings of Jerusalem

Tomb of the Kings of Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of the Kings of Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of the Kings of Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of St Jacques

Tomb of St Jacques (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of the Virgin

Tomb of the Virgin (c. 1867-1914)

Tomb of the Virgin (c. 1867-1914)

Towers

Tower of the 40 Martyrs of Palestine (c. 1867-1914)	Tower of the 40 Martyrs of Palestine (c. 1867-1914)	Tower of the 40 Martyrs of Palestine (c. 1867-1914)
Tower of David (c. 1867-1914)	Tower of David (c. 1867-1914)	Tower of David (c. 1867-1914)

Valley of Hinnom

Valley of Hinnom (c. 1867-1914)

Valley of Josephat

Valley of Josephat (c. 1867-1914)

Valley of Josephat (c. 1867-1914)

Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa Third Station (c. 1867-1914)

Via Dolorosa Fifth Station (c. 1867-1914)

Well of Samaritan

Well of Samaritan (c. 1867-1914)

The Western Wall

Description of The Wall (c. 1867-1914)	The Western Wall on A Friday (c. 1867-1914)	Jews at the Western Wall (c. 1867-1914)
The Western Wall (c. 1867-1914)	The Western Wall (c. 1867-1914)	The Western Wall (c. 1867-1914)

Where Jesus Left His Disciples to Pray

Where Jesus Left His Disciples To Pray (c. 1867-1914)

Source: The British Library Endangered Archives Collection