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A Rare Holy Land Map By the Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge

Exceptional large format map of the Holy Land, intended for use as an educational tool for teaching the Bible.

The work is meticulously researched and compiled, with an elegant treatment of the topography, roads, rivers and other geographical features.  The key for cities notes Levitical Cities, cities of refuge, doubtful and very doubtful sites, along with sites of Battles

The map provides the names of towns during four different periods:

• Scriptural
• Classical
• Medieval
• Modern

The names of countries are given during four different periods:

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Classical
• Modern

Geographical Features are listed using three different periods

• Scriptural 
• Classical
• Modern

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) was founded in 1698 by Thomas Bray.  The SPCK is the oldest Anglican mission organization in the world \

One of the key priorities of SPCK was to build libraries in market towns. In its first two hundred years, the Society founded many charity schools for poor children in the seven to 11 age group. It is from these schools that the modern concept of primary and secondary education has grown. Evidence of the SPCK's impact on British education can still be seen in the many Church of England primary schools. 

SPCK's early publications were distributed through a network of supporters who received books and tracts to sell or give away in their own localities. Large quantities of Christian literature were provided for the Navy, and the Society actively encouraged the formation of parish libraries, to help both clergy and laity. By the 19th century, members had organized local district committees, many of which established small book depots—which at one time numbered over four hundred. These were overseen by central committees such as the Committee of General Literature and Education.  

Rarity

The map is extremely rare. We note only the examples in the National Library of Scotland, and the other the National Library of Israel.

Provenance:  The Powys-Land Club; Gifted to Welshpool Free Public Library, 1888