Catalog Archive
Auction 150, Lot 574

Elaborate Map of the Holy Land, Illustrating the Life of Abraham

"Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita", Ortelius, Abraham

Subject: Holy Land

Period: 1598 (circa)

Publication: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.5 x 14.1 inches
47 x 35.8 cm
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Ortelius designed, and probably also engraved this beautiful Holy Land map. It details the wanderings and life of the Patriarch Abraham. The map is displayed as though on a banner hung on a wall; it shows Palestine and a portion of Egypt, inset with a small map of the Middle East from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates River. The imaginative design includes an elaborately engraved frame containing twenty-two scenes illustrating the life of Abraham, spanning his departure from Ur to his death. This is from the second plate, used from 1592-1624, with the hachuring within the medallion border running from upper left to lower right. From a Dutch edition, published between 1598-1613, of which Van den Broecke estimates that only 90 copies were printed.

References: Laor #547; Van den Broecke #183.

Condition: B

A nice impression on watermarked paper with lovely original color and light soiling. There are professional repairs to several centerfold separations in the bottom half of the image, and a few creases adjacent to the centerfold have been pressed flat and reinforced. The bottom margin was detached (including a portion of the border and just a touch of the medallions) and has been professionally reattached.

Estimate: $2,750 - $3,500

Unsold

Closed on 9/17/2014

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