This is one of the most decorative maps of Israel from a Dutch Bible. The map covers the region from Sidon to Rinocoruru and is oriented with north to the left. The Kishon River connects the Mediterranean with the Lake of Tiberia. The area is divided among the twelve tribes and is filled with place names and regions as mentioned in the Book of Joshua. Fifteen vignettes from the Book of Joshua surround the map including a scene of the battle between David and Goliath. This is the second state, with Dutch text on verso.

This is the second series of Dutch bible maps by Petrus Plancius, first published in 1604 by Johannes Cloppenburg. The first series consisted of a world map and 4 small maps of the Holy Land and Middle East, engraved by Johannes van Deutecum and his two sons, Johannes and Baptista. After Johannes van Deutecum (the younger) published a new set of maps in 1595, Plancius realized that his own maps required updating. He commissioned Baptista van Deutecum to engrave the second series, who also enlisted the assistance of engravers Daniel van Bremden and Pieter Bast. Plancius' second series retained the same world map and 6 larger, re-engraved maps of the Holy Land and Middle East. The purpose of the maps was to help explain the biblical texts, but Plancius decided to take the maps one step further by adding 15 biblical vignettes surrounding each map, thereby transforming each map into a work of art.

References: Laor #567; Poortman & Augusteijn #78.

Condition: B+

A dark impression, issued folding on a bright sheet with printer's ink residue. There are professional repairs to several short edge tears that enter less than 1" into the image, as well as to a number of small chips along the sides of the sheet, and to a large chip at bottom right, all confined to the blank margins.