"Ierusalem Qualis (ut Plurimum) Extitit Aetate Solomonis", Fuller, Thomas

This delightfully illustrated map is from what R.V. Tooley described as "the most quaint and decorative series of maps." This imaginary bird's-eye plan depicts Jerusalem at the time of Solomon, oriented to the north. The map is adorned with a coat of arms and dedication to Edward Montagu. Engraved by John Goddard with his initials at lower right.

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) was a respected English clergyman who wrote several books on the history and geography of the Holy Land. His A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, published in 1650, was a geographical description of the Holy Land with special reference to biblical history. Fuller financed the book by dividing it into sections and finding sponsors for each one. To acknowledge the patrons, all maps contained decorative cartouches with the sponsor's coat of arms and a dedication to him.

References: Laor #1024; Nebenzahl (HL) p.128-131, #17; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.FULL-1a #16.

Condition: A

A clean and bright example on watermarked paper with several small worm tracks confined to the blank margins that have been professionally repaired.