The Benor-Kalter Collection

This important collection of old photogravure views of Jerusalem and the Holy Land (Eretz Israel) by Jacob (Ya'akov) Benor-Kalter, illustrates the early artistic work of Benor-Kalter. The work was published in Jerusalem by the Art Publishing House "Migdal" and by the Pro-Jerusalem Society in 1926. The collection includes: a) 20 plates, PP (25 cm wide by 30 cm tall). b) 17 postcards, PC (10 cm wide by 15 cm tall) and c) Three stamps from a set of Palestine Postal Stamps designed by Benor-Kalter in 1927.

Curriculum vitae summary of Benor-kalter (1897 – 1965).

Jacob (Ya'akov) Benor-Kalter was a prolific and important Jewish photographer, born in Poland in 1897. Graduated in Practical Engineering, Architecture and Graphics, he specialized in combining photography with graphic arts. Immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1921 he settled in Jerusalem and worked as an art designer for the Jewish National Fund (KKL). In 1926 He published simultaneously several works: The first was a 12 photo-etching picture album of "Jerusalem the Old City". This was published by the Pro-Jerusalem Society created in 1926 by Sir Ronald Storrs, the first civilian governor of Jerusalem. At about the same time Benor-Kalter published an album with 24 Holy Land pictures called "Eretz Israel – A Collection of Land Views" (in Hebrew), that was published by his own company called "Migdal". In addition, he produced a series of photogravure postcards with similar and other photographs.
 

In 1927, Jacob Benor-Kalter was selected to design the new pictorial series of stamps for the Postmaster General of Palestine. The expanded album "Jerusalem the Old City" with 22 photogravure pictures had a second edition published in 1931 by "Divan Book and Art Shop Jerusalem" and a third edition printed in 1958 in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the State of Israel. During the 1930's his photographic style changed to include photomontage prints which were published in several albums. In the 1940's he abandoned photography and become engaged in architectural projects, married to Behira and built his house in the seashore of Natanya. Benor-Kalter died in Jerusalem in 1969.

The album "Eretz Israel – A Collection of Land Views" (in Hebrew), holds 24 Photogravure Prints of Jerusalem and the Holy Land 1926, תרפ'ו.

Producing A Photogravure Print.

A photogravure is a photographic image that is printed from an engraved  copper plate. Producing Photogravure prints during the 1920's in the Holy Land was a pioneering complicated art project that involved several stages.
 

The first stage in the process starts with the original camera film negative, afterwards a new negative image is made from the original negative to produce a positive image. The second stage is to sensitize a sheet of pigmented gelatin gravure tissue placed on a  copper plate. The third stage is to expose the film positive to the sensitized gravure tissue, hardening the gelatin in proportion to the degree of light exposed to it. The fourth stage is to adhere the exposed tissue to the copper plate. The fifth stage is to use a hot water bath to remove the paper backing and to wash away the softer, unexposed gelatin. The sixth stage is to etch the plate in a series of ferric chloride baths, creating a gravure plate with tiny wells of varying depth to hold ink. The final stage is to print the cleaned plate.

An antique printing press for etched  copper plates. Used to print photogravures.

List of 37 Pictures

A list of pictures. Page 2 from the album "Eretz Israel – A Collection of Land Views" by Benor kalter, 1926.

To view the entire collection
click on the picture