VAN DE VELDE (Charles William Meredith). The Land of Israel. Collection of one hundred views from nature in Syria and Palestine. Paris: Ve Jules Renouard, 1857. - Grand in-folio, 553 x 388: 88 pp., 99 plates (out of 100). Half-chagrin burgundy with corners, gilt filets, spine with decorated nerves (binding of the period). The only edition of 300 copies, dedicated to William III King of the Netherlands, of this superb work containing beautiful lithographed views taken by the Dutch painter Charles William Meredith Van de Velde (1818-1898) during a voyage of geographical exploration in Palestine in 1851 and 1852. 99 of the 100 plates required, 98 of which represent views lithographed in 2 or 3 shades or colours by Ciceri, Jacottet, Sabatier, Benoist, etc. ., from drawings by Van de Velde, and one, the last, a map of Palestine. Plate 30, supposed to represent the Ruins of Hazour or Hazireh, is missing. Plate 74, at the top of the suite, serves as a frontispiece. Seventy pages at the head of the suite give the description of these plates which represent successively : Beirut - Sidon - Hasbeiya and its surroundings. - Belad-Bescharah. - The Province of Akha. - Mount Carmel. - Samaria. - Jerusalem and its surroundings. - Judea and the Dead Sea. - The Jordan River and Lakes Galilee and The Two Libans. Binding very damaged. Spine partly undone, blunt corners, split hinges. Large light wetness at the bottom inside corner of the pages, without damage to the illustrations. Freckles as usual.