Ortelius designed, and probably also engraved this beautiful Holy Land map. It details the wanderings and life of the Patriarch Abraham. The map is displayed as though on a banner hung on a wall; it shows Palestine and a portion of Egypt, inset with a small map of the Middle East from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates River. The imaginative design includes an elaborately engraved frame containing twenty-two scenes illustrating the life of Abraham, spanning his departure from Ur to his death. This is the less common first plate, which was used from 1590-95. This example has a blank verso, indicating that it was published in the 1590 Latin edition, of which Van den Broecke estimates that only 20 copies were printed.

References: Laor #547; Van den Broecke #182.

Condition: A

A fine impression and excellent color on watermarked paper with a few small, manuscript ink notations (on the fourth medallion and on the wooden roller holding up the map).