Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae. Das ist Ein Reisebuch, Uber die ganze heilige Schrifft, in zwei Bücher getheilet. Printed by Paul Donat (in Vorlegung Ambrosii Kirchners). Magdeburg, Germany, 1597. German. Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae [Travel book through Holy Scriptures], by Heinrich Bünting, (1545-1606), a German pastor, theologian and cartographer, native of Hanover. This is one of the most important travel books, and when first published in 1581, provided the most comprehensive description of biblical geography available. Since then, the book has been printed in several editions and has been translated into many languages. The book describes the Holy Land by following the travels of various notable people from the Old and New Testaments. Four parts (separate title pages for each part, with the exception of the first part): Part 1 is the longest and deals with the Old Testament recounting the travels of the Prophets, Kings, Judges and various other Biblical figures. Part 2, Itinerarium Noui Testamenti, describes the travels of Joseph, Maria and other figures from the New Testament. Part 3, Uber das Buch Josua, deals with the Book of Joshua; Part 4, De Monetis et Mensuris Sacrae Scripturae is about money and means of payment mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. The book includes 12 maps (woodcuts), most of the maps are double-spreads (printed on two pages), depicting the world and Eretz Israel. Three of the maps are figurative maps drawn by Bünting: The first and most well known is the map which portrays the world in the shape of a cloverleaf with three points (the cloverleaf appears on the emblem of the city of Hanover, where Bünting was born). The triple cloverleaf represents three continents, Asia, Europe and Africa. In the center of the leaf, representing the center of the world is the city of Jerusalem. The second map presents the Asian continent in the shape of Pegasus (a winged horse that appears in Greek mythology). On the third map, the European continent is drawn in the shape of a queen wearing a cape and a crown (depicting the Phoenician princess, Europe). In addition to these figurative maps, the book also contains more conventional maps: a map of the African continent, two world maps, four maps of Eretz Israel, a map of Jerusalem and a sketch of the Holy Temple. Part 1: [14], 240, [7] pages (lacking another title page?); Part 2: [6], 102, [8], pages; Part 3: [1], 34, pages, [one empty]; Part 4: [6], 15, [2], 14-21 pages. Many mispaginations. Volume 30 cm. Spots, moth damages, minor tears. Some leaves (primarily with the maps), have ancient repairs – tears restored with glued paper. The first title page is detached and damaged, glued on paper for reinforcement. The maps are in fair condition. Most have stains and restored tears (ancient restorations). Some have cutoff margins. The cloverleaf map is detached, with spots, minor tears to margins, paper glued on folding mark. The margins of the queen-shaped map of Europe and the Pegasus map are slightly cut off. Spotting. Restored damage to the folding marks. Restorations with glued paper and tape (the Pegasus map has two strips of tape, 8 and 4 cm. long). Contemporary binding, with clasps for closing (one clasp is lacking).

13 leaves from “Cosmographia” by Sebastian Münster. Including four maps. [Basel, second half of 16th cent.]
13 leaves of the book, concerning Eretz Israel and the vicinity, with illustrations and four maps (woodcuts):
1. Map of Eretz Israel and Syria. 17X26 cm. Laor 528.
2. Die heilige statt Jerusalem contrafehtet nach form uns gestalt wie sie ietz erbauwen ist. View of Jerusalem. 38X15 cm. Laor 1087.
3. Syria/Cypern/Palestina/Mesapotamia/Babylonia / zwey Arabia/mit Bergen, Wasseren und Stetten. Map of the Midle East. 36X30 cm. Laor 531.
4. Das Heilig Landt mit ausztheilung der zwolff Geschlechter [Holy Land, with division into the Twelve Tribes territories]. In spite of the title, the borders of the Twelve Tribes are not marked. 36X31 cm. Laor 523.
The book "Cosmographia" deals with geography, history, zoology, botany, ethnography and astronomy and is accompanied by hundreds of maps and illustrations of lands and cities around the world. The first German edition was published in 1544, and is considered the earliest German description of the world. Numerous editions have been published later in German, Latin, French, Italian and Czech. The leaves presented here were printed in one of the German editions of the book. [13] leaves, 34 cm. Fair-good condition. Spots, minor tears, library ink stamp and label of a book store on three of the leaves. Tears, moth-holes, spots and a tear restored with adhesive tape to the fourth map. Damages to binding.

1. Terra Sancta XVI nova tabula [Modern map of Palestine 16th century], Sebastian Münster. Basel, 1542. Colored woodcut.
Eretz Israel spans on both sides of the Jordan River according to the Tribes' territories. An illustration of Sodom and Gomorra burning, appears on the Dead Sea. On the reverse appears a text in Latin. 29.2X35.5 cm, good condition, central folding mark, minor spotting on borders and to map. Laor no. 616.
2. Tabula Asiae IIII [map of Asia no. 4], Claudius Münster. Basel, 1542. Woodcut.
The Middle East is portrayed from Cyprus to Babel. The Holy Land coast line is stretching from Acre to Ashkelon. 30X39 cm. Central folding mark, somewhat torn. Several moth holes. Laor no. 615.