Map of Palestine and map of Europe and the Middle East, two engravings from "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" (Theater of the World) by Abraham Ortelius. [Antwerp, ca. 16th-17th centuries]. Latin.
1. "Palaestinae sive totius Terrae Promissionis nova descriptio auctore Tilemanno Stella Sigenensi", map of Palestine. [Antwerp, late 16th century or early 17th century].
A map of Palestine showing both sides of the Jordan River (after Tilemann Stella), delineating the territories of the Twelve Tribes and the route of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. The shoreline runs from Beirut to the Nile Delta. The Dead Sea is crescent-shaped.
An ornamented cartouche at the top left corner reads: "And thou shall remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness…" (Deuteronomy 8:2; Latin); above the cartouche: "Deut. 8". Latin text on verso: "Palaestina".
This is the third variant of Ortelius' map of Palestine (in 1570 and 1579 two additional variants of the map were published, with small variations).
See Laor 541.
Engraved map: 45.5X34 cm (printed on two conjoined sheets). Good condition, Minor stains. A tear to margins of sheet, reinforced with tape.
2. "Geographia Sacra. Ex Conatibus geographicis Abrahami Ortelÿ", map of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. [Antwerp, 1598?].
With an inset oval world map, surrounded by a Psalm (Latin): "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell in it" (24: 1). No text on verso.
Engraved map: 38X36 cm (printed on two conjoined sheets). Good condition. Minor creases. Minor stains on margins and verso.