“Theatrum Terrae Sanctae et Biblicarum Historiarum” by Christian van Adrichem. Cologne: Birckmannica, 1628 (print details on colophon). Latin.
Influential work by the Catholic priest and theologian Christian van Adrichem (1533–1585).

The work is widely regarded as one of the most important geographical pieces of literature on the Holy Land in recent history. The book, which took close to thirty years to compile, was only published posthumously, after its author had died. It was a groundbreaking achievement, laying the groundwork for mapmaking related to the Holy Land for roughly the next two centuries. The book comprises a dozen engraved maps, including nine maps laying out the territorial boundaries of the Twelve Tribes of Israel; a map of the Paran Desert (indicating the various way stations where the Children of Israel camped in the course of their travels from Egypt to the Promised Land); and two larger (folded) maps of particular significance, namely a map of Jerusalem, showing locations of the various gates and the well–known sites, as well as the earliest indication of its kind of the Via Dolorosa’s Fourteen Stations of the Cross; and a full map of the Holy Land, several different variations of which were published shortly thereafter by some of the most influential cartographers, such as Thomas Fuller, Nicolaes Visscher, Jan Jansson, and others. In the present copy, the right half of the map of the Holy Land is missing.

[5] ff., 286 pp., [15] ff. + [1] title page engraving and [12] engraved plates, approx. 37.5 cm. Good condition. Half of map of Holy Land (one of the two plates that make up the map) missing. Stains and wear. Minor worming holes to some leaves. Several notations in ink. Several engraved plates with tears to edges and to length of fold lines (some reinforced with strips of paper glued onto back). Binding with leather spine and corners, somewhat worn.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB.410.