19th Century Holy Land Archive

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

George May Powell was a philanthropist and public speaker on progressive and religious issues of the late 19th Century. Powell's public career started in his 20's as a noted statistician in the U.S. Treasury Department during the Civil War. After the war Powell became very involved in three publishing companies which combined his business and social reform interests. Powell also founded several social reform organizations. He was a noted public speaker, writer and cartographer. He also delved into photography as well as design and promotion of his inventions of an improved rifle and army cot. Group of twenty items, consisting of maps, letters, brochures, and photographs pertaining to George May Powell's topographical expedition to the Holy Land.. Includes: Memorandum, 1p. quarto, Pittsford, New York, September 24, 1874, between Charles Burns and George May Powell for the Oriental Topographical Corps, and reads in part: "Burns agrees as a Financial Correspondent of said Corps, to make calls on person to interest and inform…persons on the corps…also, to notify subscribers of the issue of publications due them…" VG…plus; Four Autograph Letters Signed addressed to Powell's partner Dr. James Strong, requesting to accompany the Corps on their expedition to Egypt, Palestine, and other points in the Middle East. All dated from September of 1873. All Fine….plus; Autograph Letter Signed, 2p. octavo, London, November 19, 1873, addressed to Strong and reads: "…We should not reach Jerusalem before the middle of Dec. too late for a letter to reach you in America, if you leave on the 1st of Jan…I can arrange to meet you at Alexandria…Direct your letter to the care of the State Department Wash. D.C…." Fine…plus; Autograph Document Signed, "Geo. May Powell", 1p. octavo, being his holographic copy of a letter addressed to the Oriental Topographical Corps, December 27, 1873, and reads in part: "…allow me to say that the corps proposed to make the taking of tourists a feature of its work in the east. If we can do this work through you we shall be pleased…In this event we shall in most cases wish 1st to have you take entire charge of the tourists in respect to detail. 2d To have the profits rising from five percent less than the usual rates you charge…3d. In the case of the party now proposed to be made up to travel to Palestine with Dr. James Strong to raise the prices so arranged that the Corps will have as above one Hundred Dollars on each person sent…" Fine…plus; Printed map of Palestine, hand colored by George May Powell and published by the Evangelical Press Association, 1p. double folio, 1872. VG…plus; Light and Shade Relief Map of Palestine by George May Powell, 1896, 1p. double folio, very detailed map with radial key index giving approximate distances and directions from Jerusalem. XF….plus; 1883 Pocket map by George May Powell of the Mediterranean Sea area, "Showing points referred to in the Acts of the Apostles", with radial key map showing their distances and direction from Jerusalem. Colored. Oblong quarto. Fine…plus; The same map as previous item, except being the 1884 edition. Fine…plus; Index to Powell's "INDEXED RELIEF WALL MAP OF PALESTINE, 44 x 66 Inches" Map not present. Fine…plus; Albumen photograph, 1p. 9"x7", of the "Mosk [sic] of Omar on Site of Solomon's Temple Jerusalem." VG…plus; Photograph, 1p. 7"x10", of the Cleopatra Needle at Alexandria Egypt with inscription on verso saying "Brought to Central Park N. York City". Fine….plus; Program for an "Illustrated Oriental Lecture, Personal Experiences in Syria, Egypt, and Central North Africa. By Geo. May Powell, (Abou Ben Adhem)" with music and pictures of his expedition. VG…plus; Ticket to Powell's "Oriental Reception" with vignette of Arabs and camels. VG…plus; Image of Powell in Arab garb with caption at bottom "WRITE ME AS ONE THAT LOVES HIS FELLOW MEN." with "ABOU BEN ADHEM" Powell's Arabic name. Mounted to verso is a colored map of Palestine copyrighted in 1888 by Powell. VG…plus; Powell's copy of three newspaper articles pertaining to his lectures. VG…plus; July, 1900 issue of the Pennsylvania Herald, with image of Powell on the front cover. Fine…plus; Assignments of Copyrights from George May Powell to George May Powell Publishing which records well over fifty (50) of Powell's maps and illustrations of the Holy Land and their corresponding copyright dates and numbers, and is signed by Powell. With tipped in Library of Congress Copyright form. With Librarian of Congress Copyright Office blindstamp. Very rare. XF. A wonderful grouping of material pertaining to the Holy Land expedition of the Oriental Topographical Corps.

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