Pressed flowers albums from Jerusalem

The pressed flowers albums were the most beautiful and unique souvenirs Jerusalem had to offer pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Over time, I studied over 450 albums, compiling and categorizing their unique characteristics: the flower species used in the albums, the identities of album producers, the origins of the illustrations and landscape photos featured in the albums, their bindings, and how the albums changed over time. One of the major challenges was determining when the albums were produced. Production dates rarely appear on the items, and dedications handwritten on the inside cover helped me place albums upon a timeline spanning from 1870 to 1950.

A short historical background depicts mid-nineteenth century Jerusalem. The chapters that follow are set against processes of modernization that took place in Palestine over time, and the consequential changes in tourism. I demonstrate how, over an eighty-year period, both the characteristics of pilgrims and technological developments invariably affected changes in the pressed flower albums.

This book is dedicated to all those who wish to become familiar with the history of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel as reflected in these material objects, and the unique spirit they embody.