Palaestina in XII Tribus divisa cum Terris Adiacentibus

Decorative map of the Holy Land depicting the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

One of the Homann Heirs most impressive maps of the Holy Land (today’s Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon), this lovely example has original hand color and features a dark, crisp impression on thick-laid paper. Color-coded regions representing the original Twelve Tribes of Israel are the primary focus and an inset map of the region provides additional context on the early political organization of the area.

Several distance scales are provided, as is common on Homann’s maps, alongside multiple decorative title cartouches. The first, in the upper right, is a dedication to future Duke Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand. The second, in the lower right, is a depiction of the Israelite camp, with the two spies returning to Moses bearing fruit from the Promised Land.

A rare map of an immensely important region published in Nuremberg during the mid-18th century.