1650 Simeon Instrumenta Violentia in Habitationibus Ipsius
By: Thomas Fuller
Date: 1650 (Published) London
Dimensions: 10.5 x 13 inches (26.7 x 33 cm)
This striking map of the Holy Land is one of a series from the monumental opus of Thomas Fuller, an atlas entitled Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament acted thereon. The atlas was published in English and is often referred to as the first true Biblical atlas. Pisgah refers to Mount Pisgah, the mountain in the Bible from which Moses saw the Promised Land for the first time.
This fascinating, engraved double-page map features the lands of the tribe of Simeon between the Aegypti and Sorek Rivers. Simeon, second son of Jacob in the Old Testament, was disinherited by his father for having avenged the alleged rape of his sister Dinah by Canaanite Shechem.
The map features many vignettes alluding to biblical sources, along with towns, mountains, rivers, encampments, important routes, etc. One such vignette depicts a man, possibly Elijah, sleeping under a tree with a winged angel appearing to entreat him to arise. Forested lands are depicted, many trade routes are shown with caravans enroute to trade centers along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
The lower right features the coat of arms of Fuller’s patron Willam Honywood, the patron who financed the map, along with a dedication to him in Latin. Further embellishment includes a legend scale with two cherubim holding a drafting compass.
Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) was an English historian, clergyman, and writer who produced many works in addition to his Biblical atlas entitled Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament acted thereon, including The Church -History of Britain (1655) and Worthies of England (1662).
His works are known for their use of original sources and antiquarian information. The Church-History of Britain included the first detailed account of the decades before the civil wars. Worthies of England was the first biographical dictionary in English and included a catalog of the notable features of every county in England.
Fuller was a prolific author and one of the first English writers to earn a living from his writing. He was a chaplain to the Royalist army during the fighting, and later became a friend of Izaak Walton, another leading biographer.
Condition: This map is in B+ condition. Dark toning around the edges does not impact the image. Minor printer’s wrinkles in places which enter the image.
Inventory #12935
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622