Canaan. Hand-colored copperplate map.

SPEEDE, JOHN & JOHN MORE

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

“The Description of Palestine” on verso.

Laor 737.

John Speede (1552-1629) was a renowned English historian and mapmaker. 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. Also displayed is the route of the Israelite exodus from Egypt.