Very Large Map of the Holy Land and Jerusalem by Haines, 1828: American Made, Exodus, Sinai, Solomon’s Temple, Bethlehem

Step into the sacred geography of antiquity with "A New Map of the Land of Promise And the Holy City of Jerusalem," a masterwork of cartographic artistry and biblical storytelling, engraved by D. Haines in 1828. This rare American wall map, with only a handful of known institutional examples, offers a sweeping bird’s-eye perspective of the Holy Land, extending from the storied banks of the Nile and the Red Sea to the ancient cities of Damascus and Sidon. At its heart lies Jerusalem, meticulously rendered and celebrated as the spiritual epicenter of the Abrahamic faiths. The map’s design is not merely geographical—it is a visual tapestry, interweaving sacred history with the landscape itself.

What sets this map apart is its richly illustrated narrative, bringing to life the most pivotal events of the Old and New Testaments. Hundreds of tiny vignettes, each carefully engraved, depict moments such as the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea, and Moses receiving the Ten Commandments atop Mount Sinai. These scenes are not mere decoration; they are historical waypoints, inviting the viewer to trace the journeys, struggles, and triumphs of biblical figures across the terrain. The map’s pictorial approach transforms it into a unique artifact—both a work of art and a didactic tool for understanding the ancient world.

The map’s cartographic lineage is equally remarkable. Its format and visual language are directly inspired by the 17th-century Dutch and English traditions, notably van Doetechum’s 1641 prototype and Claes Jansz Visscher’s celebrated plan of Jerusalem. Haines’s edition represents the culmination of nearly two centuries of European and American mapmaking, reinterpreted for a new audience in early 19th-century Philadelphia. This blend of Old World craftsmanship and New World ambition is evident in every detail, from the ornate inset views of Solomon’s Temple to the panoramic “Prospect of Jerusalem” that crowns the composition.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the map is a remarkable historical document, capturing a moment when biblical scholarship, religious devotion, and the art of engraving converged in American print culture. Its rarity—attested by the few surviving examples—speaks to its value as both a collector’s item and a testament to the enduring fascination with the Holy Land. For historians, collectors, and connoisseurs of cartography, this map offers an unparalleled window into the ways in which faith, history, and geography have been intertwined across centuries.

The map’s coverage is impressively comprehensive, encompassing iconic locations such as Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron, Nazareth, and the Sea of Galilee, as well as the vast expanses of Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. Key biblical routes and encampments are charted with precision, while towns, fortresses, and landmarks are rendered in evocative bird’s-eye perspective. Each element invites exploration, whether you are retracing the footsteps of ancient prophets or simply admiring the artistry of a bygone era. This map is not only a visual feast but also a profound historical artifact—an invitation to journey through the Land of Promise as it was imagined by the cartographers and believers of the past.

Places on this map

• Jerusalem
• Bethlehem
• Jericho
• Hebron
• Damascus
• Sidon
• Cairo
• Mecca
• Mount Sinai
• Nile River
• Red Sea
• Dead Sea
• Jordan River
• Gaza
• Joppa (Jaffa)
• Nazareth
• Sea of Galilee
• Egypt
• Sinai Peninsula
• Samaria

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Prominent bird's-eye view of the city of Jerusalem
• Detailed inset plan of Jerusalem, numbered with key locations
• Inset depiction of Solomon's Temple
• "A Prospect of Jerusalem" panoramic view
• Illustrations depicting biblical events such as:
• The Exodus from Egypt
• Crossing of the Red Sea
• Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai
• The encampments of the Israelites during their journey
• Depictions of battles and significant biblical events in the region
• Numerous small vignettes illustrating scenes from the Old Testament narratives
• Clearly labeled routes and trails relevant to biblical stories
• Depictions of towns, villages, and fortresses in a pictorial, bird's-eye style
• Nile Delta and Egyptian coast prominently shown
• Sinai Peninsula clearly depicted with Mount Sinai labeled
• The Jordan River and Dead Sea clearly labeled and illustrated
• Illustrations of significant biblical landmarks, such as Bethlehem, Jericho, and Hebron

Historical and design context

• Rare American wall map depicting the Holy Land and Egypt, with only a handful of known institutional examples
• Engraved by D. Haines in 1828, who worked for notable Philadelphia publishers J.H. Young and S. Augustus Mitchell
• Derived from a long tradition of pictorial maps dating back to the 17th-century Dutch cartographer van Doetechum, with subsequent English editions throughout the 18th century
• Richly illustrated with pictorial vignettes, bringing to life pivotal events of the Old and New Testaments
• Features detailed inset views of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple, inspired by Claes Jansz Visscher’s 17th-century map of Jerusalem
• Represents the culmination of nearly two centuries of European and American mapmaking, reinterpreted for a new audience in early 19th-century Philadelphia
• Historically informative, illustrating biblical events and stories with geographical precision
• Blends Old World craftsmanship and New World ambition in its design and execution

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the undefined version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.