1803 J Blair Map of Ancient Palestine 12 Tribes Israel c. 1000-900 BCE Egypt Syr

Description: Palestinae seu Terrae Promissionis in duodecim Tribus Partitae Facies Antiqua cui Accessit Itinerum Israelitarum Series necnon Davidici et Solomonaei Imperii Vicinarum que Egypti et Syriae Regionum Descriptio drawn by Thomas Kitchin, from John Blair’s, “The Chronology and History of the World,” published in London, 1803. Large format copper engraved map on heavy watermarked paper, uncolored as issued, with plate mark and wide margins and title set in a fancy cartouche. Latin text. Map size: 16 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches (neatlines) on sheet 18 3/8 x 25 1/2 inches. Scale not given. Undated but drawn circa late-1700s and printed in 1803. Condition: Light age toning overall with two vertical fold lines, as made, for containing the map inside the book (earlier printings of the map were bound into the book using a glued stub resulting in a centerfold, often with an attendant toning band associated with aging of the glue. This example was bound in at the left edge without glue thus no toning band). Some faint offsetting is present at center and left side noticeable mainly in blank areas. For accuracy, a tiny hole is found in a blank area at center right just above the word Arabia in “Arabia Deserta”, and a corner crease to the bottom left corner limited to the blank margin. A nice, clean example of this interesting map based on a late 18th century understanding of biblical history and geography. The map is centered on Palestine divided into geographic boundaries occupied by the 12 tribes of Israel (Simeon, Judah, Benjamin, Dan, Reuben, Ephraim, Gad, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali), and adjoining and nearby regions (Egypt, Syria, Phoenicia, Philistia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, Cyprus and a portion of the southern coast of Turkey). As such, the map focuses on the golden age of ancient Israel during the reigns of King David and Solomon (1000 to 900 BCE) but apparently including content from other periods up to and including the 1st Century CE, such as indicated by notation of the sea route used by the Apostle Paul during his missionary travels. Major geographic divisions are shown using a heavy dashed line with lighter dotted lines used for tribal boundaries and, sometimes confusingly, travel routes. The map shows mountains, rivers, lakes, travel and trade routes, and innumerable cities, villages, and other place names, which lend a rich and complex depiction to the Holy Land. Many older names are accompanied by more recent names placed below with special underlining. Of particular interest, the map shows the Israelite monarchy at its greatest extent, spanning the Negev desert south to the Red Sea and encompassing Syria on the north all the way to the Euphrates River and Mesopotamia. Major irrigation works are depicted along the Nile River in Egypt and Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia with each region having a plethora of recognizable ancient city and place names. The legend provides color boxes for illustrating the Kingdoms of Palestine and Judaea and land acquisitions by David and Solomon; however, no copies I know of have original coloring for these features. In addition to testing and expanding your biblical knowledge, this map provides an opportunity to sharpen your Latin skills, an easy task when using Google translate! Any coloring, of course, should be performed by a professional – personally, I prefer to leave antique maps as made. First published in 1754, John Blair’s “Chronology” was a popular resource for dating and summarizing important historical events from biblical, classical and modern (to date of publication) sources. It is important to remember that, prior to and including the early Enlightenment, study of classical antiquity and “dead languages” were a foundational part of an advanced education in Western Civilization, as science, engineering, mathematics, etc. were yet to evolve. His “Chronology” went through many editions well into the 19th century with maps added in the 1768 and later editions to help illustrate lands covered by the work, both ancient and modern. Through the years, most maps show little or no revision between the various editions, especially the ancient maps, but modest revisions were made to the modern maps, particularly in light of major discoveries and political change, as reflected in the map of North America after the American Revolution, and world hemispheres map after the last global voyage of Captain Cook.

Price: 195 USD

Location: Denver, Colorado

End Time: 2024-12-17T01:35:20.000Z

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