This is the second, enlarged German edition of Dapper's impressive work on Syria and Palestine, first issued in Dutch in 1672. This edition includes 39 maps, views and engravings (of which 31 are double-page or folding) as well as 34 half-page engravings within the text. The German editions were printed in Nurnberg with the text translated and edited by Jacob van Meurs, who also created newly engraved plates. Dapper was a physician and historian, although he never traveled outside the Netherlands. He based this work on other texts by Josephus, Eusebius, Hieronymus, Adrichom and contemporary accounts. Some of the more interesting maps and plans include:

A. A six-sheet map of the Holy Land based on Adrichom's Situs Terrae Promissionis
B. Two bird's-eye plans and a panoramic view of Jerusalem
C. Perigrinatie ofte Veertich Iarige Reyse der Kinderen Israels, a map depicting the forty years' wandering of the Children of Israel from Egypt through the desert and into the Promised Land
D. Syriae sive Soriae Nova et Accurata Descriptio, a map of Syria and Lebanon that extends to include part of Turkey

The volume also includes a lovely frontispiece with Middle Eastern figures and the Amsterdam imprint of Jacob van Meurs, dated 1681. Folio. Divided into two parts with an index and list of engravings for each part. 400 pp.; 200 pp. Full contemporary leather with embossed front cover; raised bands and gilt tooling on spine.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.DAPP-10a.

Condition: B+

Nice impressions with very light toning and occasional soiling and foxing. There are some worm tracks that affect the centerfolds of some engravings and text pages, and a pair of small worm holes in the bottom margin affects the first 230 pages of the volume. Several of the folding maps have short separations. The binding is sound and the covers are worn and soiled with a few small worm holes and a bit of cracking of the leather. Some of the gilt tooling and the leather title label on the spine has been worn off.