More than 450 rare maps donated to National Library of Israel

One of the world’s greatest map collectors has made a hugely significant donation to The National Library of Israel (NLI).

Howard Golden has gifted 466 rare maps of Israel, together with 120 books with prints, illustrations and maps. The donation is particularly unique as approximately 400 of the maps are entirely new to the NLI collection.

The antique maps, dating from 1475 to 1800, were preserved in excellent condition by Golden who collected the historical maps of the Land of Israel over several decades. A significant percentage of the maps were printed before 1700 and are therefore defined as rare.

NLI has cataloged and digitized them for preservation and research purposes, to be used as a primary source, downloadable and free-of-charge, for students, researchers, and visitors from Israel and abroad.

Among the outstanding items in the Howard I. Golden Map Collection are a printed and hand-colored, Dutch-language map of Israel from 1593 and a hand-colored, map of Israel with Latin text from around 1653; printed in Amsterdam it features illustrations of Bible stories including the Children of Israel crossing the Jordan, the murder of Absalom, the anointing of King Saul by the prophet Samuel and David facing Goliath.

Together with NLI’s ‘Eran Laor Cartographic Collection’, the Golden Map Collection now creates the world’s largest collection of maps of the Land of Israel.

Dr. Raquel Ukeles, Head of Collections at the National Library of Israel, said: “This exquisite collection of rare maps and books dramatically expands our holdings of Holy Land maps, and reinforces our standing at the forefront of historical cartographic research and inquiry. On behalf of the Library, I wish to express our deepest thanks to Howard and Helen Golden for their generosity, and this wonderful gift.”

Oren Weinberg, CEO of the National Library of Israel, said: “This one of the most important donations recently received by the Library. These hundreds of antique and rare maps of the Land of Israel are highly significant and will be of great benefit to historical, geographical, and cartographical research. Because the Library has made this collection available online, it allows the public interested in historical geography to enjoy a collection that is both important and very beautiful.”

Founded in Jerusalem in 1892, The National Library of Israel‘s map collection consists of almost 2,000 antique maps of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as well as antique maps of other parts of the world, modern maps of the State of Israel and of Israeli cities (from before and after the establishment of the State), modern maps of other countries in the region, contemporary maps of Israel as well as maps in European languages, Hebrew, Yiddish and Arabic.