Christ Before Pilate

Imagine yourself at Christ’s trial before Pilate!

This unusual religious novelty was patented in October 1887 by J.S. Philstrom of Chicago. Two decorative covers unfold, accordion-style, to present a three-dimensional scene of Jesus Christ standing trial before Pontius Pilate. The lavish ‘room’, flanked by elaborate columns, is filled with gesticulating religious leaders, soldiers, scribes, and even a mother and child. Jesus stands resolutely before Pilate, who is sitting atop a throne and apparently deep in thought.

Christ’s trial before Pontius Pilate, as recorded in the Gospels, took place after his arrest and trials before Jewish authorities. Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, initially found no fault in Jesus and sought to release him. However, pressured by Jewish leaders and the crowd, he sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who also found no basis for execution and returned him to Pilate. Despite Pilate’s attempts to release Jesus – offering to free him instead of Barabbas and symbolically washing his hands – he ultimately succumbed to public outcry and sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion.

Though sold inexpensively and appealing to a mass (albeit upper-middle class) market, the ephemeral piece is apparently a scarce survivor. It is unlisted in WorldCat as of February 2025. Only one of Philstrom’s previous works can be located – a similar peephole book of Chicago’s Lincoln Park copywritten the same year (1887).

Sources: OCLC# 1284805036 (Lincoln Park); Smithsonian Insitute;