"Souvenir of Palestine", embroidered souvenir for soldiers in World War II. [Palestine], 1941. Embroidery threads on cotton sateen; paint. White cotton lining. The Australian Rising Sun Badge is in the center, surmounted by the British Imperial crown, spreading a blue canopy around the badge. A caravan of small figures depicted below – two shepherds, two camels, a donkey and a goat, flanked by two palm trees, each flying a flag – the Australian flag to the right and the United Kingdom flag to the left. Inscribed "Souvenir of Palestine" and "1941". Embroidered souvenirs for soldiers were popular during World War I, when the soldiers of the Allies were stationed in Egypt. The Egyptian embroideries usually read "Souvenir of Egypt", and feature the emblems of the fighting states and illustrations of pyramids and other edifices identified with Egypt. The "Souvenir of Palestine" embroideries were made during WWII. They were of a similar design to that of the Egyptian embroideries and were decorated with palm trees, animals and often, monuments identified with Palestine. Approx. 82X63 cm (without the fringes). Good-fair condition. Stains (mainly to verso). Wear and unraveling to fabric and embroidery. Fold lines. Missing fringes.