Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
"The Grapevine Map" - Map of Palestine with Grapevines - Germany, 1741
Opening: $3,000
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Onomasticum veteris testamenti sive tractatus philologicus [Lexicon of the Old Testament with philological treatise], by Johann Simonis. Halle, 1741. Bound with: Onomasticum novi testament [Lexicon of the New Testament], by Johann Simonis. Halle, 1742. Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Ethiopian and Greek.
Engraved frontispiece - map of Palestine, with important Biblical sites, mountains, cities, and the division into the twelve tribes, captioned in Hebrew; decorated with grapevines and grapes symbolizing the fertility of the land; all within an ornate frame. Cartographer not mentioned.
One of the earliest and most important maps of Palestine captioned in Hebrew prior to the 19th century. The map was inspired by verses from the Book of Psalms referring to planting grapevines in the Land of Israel. The grapes symbolize the People of Israel, the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the Land of Israel. On the grape leaves appear the names of kings, prophets and other outstanding biblical figures. The name "Israel" appears on the vine.
The map is oriented to the north and its northern borders are Lebanon and Mount Hermon. In the south, the map reaches the estate of the tribe of Yehuda, the town of Hebron and the Dead Sea. In the west, "the Great Sea" with several vessels, and in the east - Trans-Jordan. The River Jordan flows from Lebanon southward, through the Hula Lake ("May Marom"), the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. Towns are geographically located incorrectly, for example Beersheba is located north-west of Jerusalem.
The author of the book, Johann Simonis (1698-1768), was a professor of Theology and History of the Church at Halle University, a Hebraist, Orientalist and philologist.
Laor 730. Wajntraub - Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land, 1992, p. 67.
[8] leaves, 644, 188 pp; [3] leaves, 206, [6] pp, 21.5 cm. Good overall condition. Stains (including dampstains). Some of the pages are dark. Small tears to margins of a few pages. The map is also in good condition, with stains. Small tears to top margins of the map leaf (margins cut crookedly). The map is not centered on the page. Period binding, with leather spine and corners. Small tears and defects to binding. Bookplate on inner side of front binding.
For more information on the map, see essay by Eliyahu HaCohen, "'The Grapevine Map' - A Rare Hebrew Map from 1741" (enclosed; Hebrew).
Engraved frontispiece - map of Palestine, with important Biblical sites, mountains, cities, and the division into the twelve tribes, captioned in Hebrew; decorated with grapevines and grapes symbolizing the fertility of the land; all within an ornate frame. Cartographer not mentioned.
One of the earliest and most important maps of Palestine captioned in Hebrew prior to the 19th century. The map was inspired by verses from the Book of Psalms referring to planting grapevines in the Land of Israel. The grapes symbolize the People of Israel, the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the Land of Israel. On the grape leaves appear the names of kings, prophets and other outstanding biblical figures. The name "Israel" appears on the vine.
The map is oriented to the north and its northern borders are Lebanon and Mount Hermon. In the south, the map reaches the estate of the tribe of Yehuda, the town of Hebron and the Dead Sea. In the west, "the Great Sea" with several vessels, and in the east - Trans-Jordan. The River Jordan flows from Lebanon southward, through the Hula Lake ("May Marom"), the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. Towns are geographically located incorrectly, for example Beersheba is located north-west of Jerusalem.
The author of the book, Johann Simonis (1698-1768), was a professor of Theology and History of the Church at Halle University, a Hebraist, Orientalist and philologist.
Laor 730. Wajntraub - Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land, 1992, p. 67.
[8] leaves, 644, 188 pp; [3] leaves, 206, [6] pp, 21.5 cm. Good overall condition. Stains (including dampstains). Some of the pages are dark. Small tears to margins of a few pages. The map is also in good condition, with stains. Small tears to top margins of the map leaf (margins cut crookedly). The map is not centered on the page. Period binding, with leather spine and corners. Small tears and defects to binding. Bookplate on inner side of front binding.
For more information on the map, see essay by Eliyahu HaCohen, "'The Grapevine Map' - A Rare Hebrew Map from 1741" (enclosed; Hebrew).