The first edition of Adrian Reland’s monumental work, “Palaestina, ex Monumentis Veteribus Illustrata,” stands as a significant early modern attempt to reconstruct biblical geography through meticulous philological and antiquarian research. Reland, a Dutch orientalist and cartographer, meticulously compiled sources from classical authors, rabbinic literature, and Islamic geography, including place names and tribal territories. His particular focus on the land distribution of the Twelve Tribes set a new benchmark for historical cartography of the region.
Provenance: The work bears an 18th-century ownership inscription on the verso of the title page, inscribed by Gabriel Kuhnelius.
This work laid the scholarly foundation for biblical archaeology in the 18th and 19th centuries and remains a landmark in the field of comparative Semitic toponymy. It is an essential component of any collection on the Holy Land, Judaica, or the Enlightenment’s rediscovery of the ancient Near East.
“Mapping the Ancient Holy Land” is a remarkable 1716 work of historical geography. Reland’s comprehensive map of the region, accompanied by engraved allegorical title-page, portrait frontispiece of the author, and numerous engraved maps, plates, and tables, is a testament to his expertise. The book is bound in thick 8vo, measuring 22 x 16cm, and features contemporary vellum with marbled edges, some of which have been rubbed to preserve their original appearance. The interior of the book is toned, and some text-block separation from the vellum is evident.