1650 The Tribe of Dan
By: Thomas Fuller
Date: 1650 (Published) London
Dimensions: 9.5 x 12.25 inches (24 x 31 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 Dan, son of Jacob.
The city of Bethlehem is near the centre with the camp of Dan a short distance to the east. The tents of the camp slightly to the west of Kirjath-jearim, designate the site where the six hundred Danites from Zorah and Eshtaol encamped on their way to capture the city of Laish. Following destruction of Laish, it was rebuilt and named Dan. Other points of historical interest in the region are the home of Dalilah, the sepulchre of Sampson, and workers carrying a large bundle of grapes. These are but a few of the numerous vignettes in the map denoting biblical/historical events of the Old Testament.
The Mediterranean Sea is lavishly decorated with a great ship at full sail being approached by a giant fish just as the ship’s crew push Jonah into the sea. Smaller ships are shown closer to the eastern shore of the sea. Below the Jonah vignette is an elaborate sextant atop a distance legend which is centered in a cartouche depicting a sea monster holding tridents.
A round title cartouche fills the remaining empty space of the sea, encircling a horse unseating its rider as it is frightened by a serpent in its path, alluding to the biblical scripture from Genesis concerning Dan. “Dan shall be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path that bites the horse's heels so that its rider falls backward.” The map is further embellished with the coat of arms of one of Fuller's patron-donors to his work along with a dedication to him.
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 #12936
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