“Terra Sancta. A Petro Laicstain perlustrata, et ab eius ore e t schedis a Christiano Schrot in tabulam redacta.” Latin text on verso: “Terra Sancta.”

ORTELIUS, ABRAHAM

Antwerp, first edition 1584 (or later)

Hand-colored copperplate map, two sheets conjoined.

Laor 543.

From: Abraham Ortelius. Theatrum orbis terrarum, p. 97. This is based on Christian Sgrothen (Christian Schrot)’s 9-sheet map of Palestine (1570), and modeled after sources by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Laiksteen,collected during his travels to the Holy Land. The map marks the shore-line from Beirut to Gaza with fanciful details such as fictitious bays and peninsulas. Medallions in the cartouche at upper right illustrate Biblical scenes, with a dramatic vignette of Jonah thrown to a large whale at lower left.