1861 - FLOWERS FROM THE HOLY LAND - Herbarium

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Early in the year 1861, the Jennings family of Saratoga, NY made a pilgrimage to the holy land. Along the four month journey, flowers and leaves were gatd from places that held particular Biblical significance. The specimens were pressed and catalogued. Descripitions of each botanical beauty were taken down along with the place they were found, that places significance to the stories of the Bible, and also the date each piece was harvested. These dates range between early January and mid April of 1861. These specimens and descriptions were eventually sorted out into a scrap book. The book itself is leather bound and gold leaf embossed. T is wear and tear, the worste of this is the front cover which is beginning to tear off. The inside covers are a glossy textured paper, while the pages are smooth colored sheets in pink, blue, white and green; some plain, some embossed. The third page of the book is decorative with the word "Album" in gold across the center. It is my belief that the book itself is not as old as its dated contents, but i could be wrong. The first page with content is pictured above: t is a separate card onto which the pressed flower is actually attatched with an adhesive, though the card floats free. The cards inscription says "Flowers from the Holy Land Made in Palastine" along with this page is a slip of paper onto which is hand written "Bagwort from the plain of Sharron March 5th 1861". The book ends with two cards similar to the first both displaying "Flowers from Mount Olvies Made in Palastine" Through out the rest of the book some of the specimens are afixed to the pages, but most are not. In all t are 40 pages with content, several specimens on each. Not every page has a description, but most do. Because Most of the pieces are not actually attatched to the pages themselves, I believe t may have been a point w some of the contents were shuffled. Though almost miraculously the plant material that has been preserved is in excelent condition. Very few items have desintegrated. Leaves still have texture and every shade of green and brown imaginable. Flowers are still bright and colorful. Oddly it would seem the pigment in the pages has faded more than the botanicals. Some of the Inscriptions read: "Hyssop from Gebel Musa, the traditional Mount Sinai. Feb 16th 1861" "Flowers from the roadside near Ajalon, w the moon stood still. March 6 - 1861" "Myrrh from the summit of Gebel Katherin. Feb 15th 1861" "Sprigs of Cypress from a solitary tree near Elijas cave in Huseb. January 28th 1861" "Myrrh from mount Sinai w god gave the law to his servant Moses. February 18th 1861" "Desert flowers from Berah, Arabia. Feb 22nd 1861" "Anemonae from the plain of Sharron. March 5th 1861" "Flowers and Palm leaves from Elrin, w Moses found the twelve fountains and palm trees. Feb 23rd 1861" "Flowers from Kydda w Peter healed Eneas, and w he was when the disciples came to inform him of Tabithas's death. March 7 - 1861" "Flowers from Namleh, near Joppa. April 9th 1861." The collection was given to me by a desendant of the Jennings Family in 2006. It is not only a breathtaking Biblical history, but also an extremely rare and beautiful botanical collection. I trust it will find a home w it will be apreciated and valued as much as it has been. I would be more than happy to answer any further question you may have about the piece. Thankyou for taking the time to look at this post, I hope you have enjoyed what you've seen Free shipping and insurance for buy it now purchase. -r read more

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