Lot 38
Heinrich Bünting – "Travel Book through Holy Scripture" – Helmstadt, 1582 – Map of the Old World, Maps of Palestine and a Sketch of the Temple
Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae. Das ist Ein Reisebuch, Uber die gantze heilige Schrifft in zwey Bücher getheilt [Travel Book through Holy Scripture…]. Helmstadt: Jacobum Lucium Siebenburger (Jacob Siebenburger), 1582. German. Second edition.
"Travel Book through Holy Scripture", by German pastor, theologian and cartographer Heinrich Bünting (1545-1606) was first published in 1581 and was the most complete and comprehensive description of Biblical geography in its time. It was since printed in multiple editions and translated into many languages.
The book contains eight woodcuts: a woodcut showing Solomon's Temple and seven maps – map of the Old World (Africa, Asia and Europe); map of Palestine; map of northern Palestine, showing the territories of the Twelve Tribes of Israel; a map depicting the route of the Israelites in the desert; a map of Jerusalem; a map of Palestine according to the New Testament; and a map of the Mediterranean basin. One of the maps (the Clover Leaf Map) is missing.
[8] leaves, 1-2, 7-316 pp, [10] leaves; [3] leaves, 136 pp, [6] leaves, [3] leaves; 36, [1] pp. Missing: pp. 3-6 of first sequence and one map. 31.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, some dark. Tears, some open. A tear to one map, reinforced with old tape. Long vertical tear to last leaf. Worming. Many ink notations throughout the book; ownership inscriptions (old). Label to inside front board. Back board and several leaves detached. Original wood and vellum binding, worn and damaged.
