178. Jansson, Jan: Palestina, sive Terrae Sanctae descriptio

Amsterdam, 1630k.
One of the most decorative “carte-a-figures” maps of the Holy Land. On the copper engraving of Jan Jansson, the images above the map field, which are oriented with north to the left, provide a glimpse into nine episodes of Moses’ life. The cartography is based on a two-page regional depiction by Christian Kruik van Adrichem from 1593. The engraver illustrated his work with two ships and a sea monster, and also added three cartouches. The upper right one contains the bar scale, the second surrounds the view of Jerusalem in the lower left corner, and the last encloses the imprint in the lower right corner. The copy was probably sold as part of a composite atlas, so the publisher cut off the lower image strip originally included in the engraving, which contained nine additional scenes from the Exodus, and joined back its thin frame decoration under the map field, so that the modification would be less noticeable, and the desired map would still fit into the volume.
Dimensions: 370 x 565 (380 x 575) mm. Restored on the right side and bottom, the text in the lower right cartouche is damaged (the lower illustration strip mentioned in the description is missing).
van der Krogt I.: 8150:1B.; Laor: 372.; Nebenzahl, Kenneth: Maps of the Holy Lands: Images of Terra Sancta Through Two Millenia (New York, 1986.) pl. 43.
 
Starting price: 120 000,-