Rare Edition of Bunting's Clover Leaf Map of the Old World

"Tabule Wsseho Ofrsslku Zemskeho W Spusobu Listu Detelowelo", Bunting, Heinrich

This fanciful map of the Old World was drawn to represent the Trinity. The three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa are arranged in the form of a clover leaf with Jerusalem at the center. Three landmasses lie outside the trefoil: England and part of Scandinavia above, and in the lower left corner a portion of the New World (Die Newe Welt) appears. The woodblock map is beautifully engraved with waves in the oceans that are filled with a sailing ship and sea monsters. Heinrich Bunting was a theological commentator from Hanover and devised the curious shape of the map from the arms of his home town. This comes from the re-cut woodblock from the exceedingly rare Czech edition of Itinerarium, with Czech words inserted on the map and larger sea monsters instead of mermaids.

References: Shirley #142; Manasek #32; Laor p.129; Nebenzahl (HL) pp. 88-89; Tooley (MCC-1) #88; Hoppen #130.

Condition: B+

A strong impression with two printer's creases running near the centerfold, a few spots, and light soiling.