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M-13192: (Image : 14 ½ x 19 ¾’’) “TERRA SANCTA...” Antwerp: Abraham Ortelius, c. 1598. Very fine engraved map with later hand-coloring. Verso text French.

One of the most desirable of all the early maps of the Holy Land. (Laor #543; Nebenzahl, Maps of the Holy Land, pp 86-87 - illustrated; Van den Broecke #173).

This superb map of the “Holy Land” is based on Christian Sgrooten’s (Schrot) map of 1570. It is centered on Samaria, with north oriented to the left, & depicts the region from Beirut to Gaza, & Damascus to Beersheba. Decorative features from both the Old & New Testament are included: The lower vignette shows Jonah falling from a ship into the gaping jaws of an immense fish; the title cartouche is surmounted by three medallions: (center) birth of Christ, (left) Crucifixion, & (right) Resurrection.

Published in Theatrum Orbis Terrarum - the “first modern atlas”. Ortelius used the most current available information - making his maps cartographically important. This map, with its rich hand-coloring, elegant lettering, elaborate title cartouches showing strap-work, masks & medallions, plus sea monster & ships at sea, depicts the Holy Land with a clearly Renaissance flavor