This document summarizes an hitherto unknown map of Palestine from around 1590 found in the National Library of Florence. The map is engraved on copper and measures 33 by 44.5 cm. It likely depicts Ancient or Biblical Palestine and was likely engraved by the Italian cartographer Natale Bonifacio, known for his work in Venice and Rome. The map was never finished due to Bonifacio returning to Italy in 1592 before completing work replacing the coat of arms after multiple short-lived Popes.

1. A Hitherto Unknown Map of Palestine
Author(s): Roberto Almagià
Reviewed work(s):
Source: Imago Mundi, Vol. 8 (1951), p. 34
Published by: Imago Mundi, Ltd.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1150047 .
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2. advance in knowledge, but not much later; they might be assigned to about 1508. The map of Italy, of which
we possess only three sheets, may be ascribed approximately to the same period or to a somewhat later date;
it may correspond to the Italia grandein seipe.Zi of which the plates and also the matrices are mentioned in the
inventory of 1527, just as the appamondoa mantellino duefogli reali in tutto should correspond to the Conta-
rini-Rosselli planisphere of 1506. Whether also several of the other maps listed in the inventory were Rossel-
li's work cannot be asserted with certitude. In any case, these maps should be searched for: it seems hard to
believe that all of them have been lost, and a new appeal in this sense, addressed from these pages, to students
does not seem to be out of place.
A hitherto unknown map of Palestine.
Among the collections of printed 16th century maps censis)who worked first in Venice and later (after 1575)
of the National Libraryat Florence I have found a hitherto in Rome (1). The attribution of our map to this engraver
unknown map of Palestine. It is a fine copper-engraving, is made almost certain by an indication which is found
measuring 33 x 44.5 cm, in a mediocre state of preser- in a letter, dated September 1, 1590 addressed to Ortelius
vation (a few holes). It is not graded; the scale (scala di by his friend and correspondent in Rome Phil. van
miglia) gives 58 mm for 50 miles; the NE is roughly at Winghe. Van Winghe announced to Ortelius that he had
the top. It carriesno indication with respect to the author, met Natale Bonifacio in Rome; the latter had at that
date or place of printing. However, as can be seen in the time completed a map of Palestine, which he compiled
reproduction, the upper part of the map has two empty with the aid of persons who had lived there, and which he
cartouches one of which was probably intended to carry proposed to dedicate to the new Pope (2). In fact, Boni-
the title, and the other a dedication. Between the two facio had first intended to dedicate it to Sixtus V, who
cartouches, there is a pontifical coat-of-arms - that died however on August 24,1590; consequently, some-
of Pope Sixtus V (1585-90); the inference is that the map one had to do the painstaking work of substituting on
was printed not later than 1590. the copper plate the coat-of-arms of the new Pope. It is
The map comprises the coast from Tripolisto Gazera. possible that the engraver undertook this work, but
In the Mare Mediterraneum notice a part of the island
we Sixtus V's successor, Urban VII, remained only a few
of Cyprus. In the interior, long mountain ranges separate months on the Papal throne, like his two successors,
Palestine from the neighbouring countries - Syria, Gregory XIV and Innocent IX. During 1591 Innocent
Persia, Arabia, and Egypt. A small portion of the Red Sea IX also died, and Natale Bonifacio returned to his native
appears on the map near Egypt. country early in 1592 where he died on February23, 1592.
This is obviously a map of Ancient (Biblical) Palestine, These curious circumstances explain to us why the
which is very different from any contemporary map, engraving was never finished.
but does not show any progress compared with earlier Bonifacio was in the first place an engraver, not a
maps. Several errors, duplicated names, transposition of cartographer, and therefore we should not be surprised
localities, etc., are easily observed. The nomenclature to see that the engraving of the map is better than its
is in Latin, while the map is Italian (see the names of the scientific precisionl
cardinal points: Oriente, Levante, etc.). ROBERTO ALMAGIA
The style of the engraving, and especially the oro-
graphical drawing, the representation of the most im-
portant cities (Hierusalem, Damascus,Tripolis,Beruti,etc.), (1) Cf. ALMAGIA, R. Intorno all' opera cartografica di
and the ornaments (ships, etc.) strongly recall to our Natale Bonifacio. Arch. Stor. per la Dalamzia, 14. 1933.
mind the manner of an Italian cartographerand engraver (2) Abrahami Ortelii Epistulae .... edidit J. H.
of that time, Natale Bonifacio (Natalis BonifaciusSibeni- Cantabrigae1887, No. 170, p. 408-12.
HESSEL,
34

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MAP, C. 1590
PALESTINE
(National Library, Florence)