1910s Bethlehem Middle East Vintage Art Postcard by Perlburg

About This Vintage Postcard

Step back in time to the "Golden Age" of travel with this artist-signed postcard featuring a majestic view of Bethlehem. This evocative scene is a masterwork by the renowned German painter Friedrich Perlberg, who was celebrated for his vivid Orientalist landscapes. Captured during the "golden hour," the image displays the ancient city perched atop its rugged limestone hills, bathed in the deep, warm oranges of a Mediterranean sunset. The composition highlights the city's iconic stone architecture and towering minarets, with figures winding along the path toward the gates, adding a sense of life to this historic biblical landscape. This piece was created from a watercolor original during the early twentieth century when Perlberg traveled extensively through the region to document its most sacred sites.

Historical Note on “Palestine”

This postcard identifies the location as “Palestine,” reflecting the historical name used at the time of printing (circa 1910–1915). During this period, the region was part of the Ottoman Empire and was widely known as Palestine in maps, travel literature, and commercial art. Following World War I, the area became the British Mandate for Palestine, and the name remained in official and commercial use throughout the early-to-mid 20th century.

Details

Era: Divided Back (c. 1910–1915)
City: Bethany (al-Eizariya)
State or Region: Near Jerusalem
Country: Palestine
Topic: Bethlehem Cityscape, Holy Land Architecture, Orientalist Art, Friedrich Perlberg, Biblical Sites
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: None
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Friedrich Perlberg (1848–1921)
Publisher: C. Andelfinger & Cie (Munich) 
Printer: Printed in Germany
Print Type: Halftone Lithograph

Additional Information

The publisher imprint identifies the firm as C. Andelfinger & Cie based in Munich. This card belongs to their Palästina series. Friedrich Perlberg travel watercolors were highly prized during the Golden Age of postcards for their atmospheric and documentary quality. The manufacture date is narrowed to the years before the Great War based on the series publication and the style of the divided back. The card features titles in German, English, and French, illustrating its appeal to international pilgrims and travelers. This card remains a refined archival record of a site central to the Christian tradition.

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