BÜNTING, H. - Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae. Das ist: Ein Reisebuch, Uber die gantze heilige Schrifft, in zwey Bücher geteilet... Zuvor gemehret mit einem Büchlein De monetis et mensuris. . .

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Published: Magdeburg, 1587

Size: 325 x 215mm.

Color: Uncoloured

Condition: 2 works in 1 vol. Early German edition of Bünting's Itinerarium illustrated with 12 (10 double-page) woodcut maps and plans: 2 world maps (including the famous clover-leaf map), Europe as Virgin, Asia as Pegasus, Africa, 4 maps of the Holy Land, a map of the Eastern Mediterranean, and plans of Jerusalem and the temple. Bound with the first edition of a curious work by Nachenmacher. - Bünting with usual slight browning and foxing. Old ownership inscription on title. Bound in contemporary blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards, two clasps, and initials MS and 1589. Generally, a very good and early example. Overall, a very nice copy in a contemporary binding, unrestored, of a book often found in very worn condition.

Description

Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae. Das ist: Ein Reisebuch, Uber die gantze heilige Schrifft, in zwey Bücher geteilet... Zuvor gemehret mit einem Büchlein De monetis et mensuris... Insonderheit aber mit einer feinen nützlichen Erklerung des Buches Josua... Mit einer Vorrede des Herrn D. Martini Chemnitii.

The early German edition of Bünting's Itinerarium illustrated with 12 (10 double-page) woodcut maps and plans: 2 world maps (including the famous world map in the form of a clover leaf (Shirley 142) with the three principal continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, are arranged in the form of a clover leaf with Jerusalem at the center. Three countries lie outside this trefoil: England, Scandinavia, and, in the lower left-hand corner, America. Seamonsters and mermaids adorn this uniquely designed cartographic curiosity.

Other landmark maps caricature Asia as Pegasus and Europe as a Queen: one of the most remarkable early cartographic curiosities. Spain is shown with a crown, indicating its leadership in Europe. Italy is the right arm and Denmark is on the left. Although apparently female, it has been suggested that the figure represents Emperor Charles V.

Asia as Pegasus, Africa, two of the Holy Land, Egypt, a map of the Eastern Mediterranean and plans of Jerusalem and the temple.

An early, original German edition of a classic account of Biblical travels, the Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae, was written by the Lutheran pastor and theologian Heinrich Bünting (1545-1606) of Hannover (in Lower Saxony).

First published by Jakob Lucius the elder at Helmstedt in Lower Saxony in 1581, with the third volume, De monetis et mensuris sacrae scripturae, added in 1582.

Bünting, although he had never actually visited Palestine, produced an original work by recasting sacred scripture into a Reissbuch" (Noonan); "the most complete summary of the knowledge of that day concerning the geography of the biblical events" (Van der Heijden, p. 55).

The Chronica, matching in format and produced by the same printer and publisher at the same time, contains a wealth of historical, military, heraldic and genealogical information, beautifully illustrated with finely detailed woodcuts.

Together with: Uber das Buch Josua.
Together with: De monetis et mensuris sacrae scripturae.
Reference: I. VD 16, ZV 31708 and B 9167; IA 127.702-05; Tobler 209; for the maps Shirley, World 142-143 (A. 1581), Laor 140-143, Zacharakis 501, Hill, Curiosities 46 and 47 (with illustration.) also Tooley, Oddities 2, 3, 88. van der Heijden, Bünting in: Cartogr. Helvetica 23, p.5.

Together with a first edition of : Adam Nachenmoser von Brandwälden: Prognosticon theologicum. Das ist: Gaistliche grosse Practica auß Hailiger Biblischer Schrifft und Historien. Von der Welt Naahe und Garauß. Inhaltend, die verwunderlichsten Veraenderungen im Kirchenstand und allen Policeien ... Alles nun erstmals vorgestellt und zusamen getragen.

10., 18, 118, 127pp, one full sheet, title in black and red. With two woodcuts in the text. Leiden, Wernher Jobsson (Strasbourg, Bernhard Jobin), 1588.

The first edition of this curious Reformation-shaped work of world history and prognostics was especially directed against the Papacy and the Ottoman Empire. The dissolution of the pseudonym is controversial, it is often ascribed to Johann Fischart (most recently by Eymer), ADB XXIII, 698 mentions the theologian Georg Nigrinus as the author. (Schwartz). A second edition appeared in 1598.

Including a round woodblock-printed map of the eastern hemisphere.
Reference : II. VD 16, N 19; Goed. II, 505, 78; Muller 593, 182; Ackermann I, 593.

26,000€