“Canaan.” Hand-colored copperplate map.

SPEEDE, JOHN.

London, 1651 (i.e. 1611) or later

“The Description of Palestine” pp. 54 and 55 on verso, English text.

Laor 737 (1651); Nebenzahl 39 (1611 ed).

John Speede (1552-1629) was a renowned English historian and mapmaker in London. According to the imprint, the map was “begun by Mr. John More, continued and finished by John Speede.” The map was reissued several times and resembles Ortelius’ Palestine after S. Tilemannus. The plan of Jerusalem (upper left) is after Arias Montanus. Title cartouche shows Moses and Aaron each holding one of the Tablets along with respective iconographic elements and with central Tetragrammaton. The Jerusalem inset is surrounded by vignettes of Temple vessels. Emblems of the Tribes, signifying the division of the land, appropriately placed throughout the map.