Antique Hand-Colored Map of the Tribe of Judah and the Dead Sea, 1823

This is an original antique copper engraved map with original hand coloring, published in 1823 as plate XIX of James Wyld's Geographia Sacra, or Scripture Atlas. The engraved title reads "TRIBE OF JUDAH." The title is engraved in a pink panel at the top of the map, with a scale of miles beneath it.

Judah is washed in yellow and fills a tall sheet from its western border across the central ridge, drawn in heavy hachure, to the Dead Sea. The sea itself is left uncolored and lettered "VALE OF SIDDIM, DEAD SEA, SALT SEA, or SEA of the PLAIN.", with Sodom and Gomorrah marked beside it and Moab lettered in pink on the far shore. The wildernesses of Tekoa, Ziph, Maon and Engedi are named along the eastern slopes, "Calebs Land" and the "Hill Country" across the center, and Ajalon and Bethshemesh at the top. An explanation of royal, Levitical and refuge cities sits at the lower right, and "LONGITUDE EAST FROM GREENWICH" is engraved along the lower left.

Below the lower border the credit J. Wyld del. is engraved at the left and G. Neele Sculp. at the right, with the imprint between them: "Publish'd by G. & W. B. Whittaker. 13. Ave Maria Lane. April 1823." The plate number is engraved as XIX. in the upper right.

The atlas was published by G. and W. B. Whittaker in London, and its engraved title page names Wyld as "of the Quarter Master General's Office, Horse Guards". James Wyld the elder (1790 to 1836) was a London geographer and map publisher.

Even age toning. Marked handling soiling along all four edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. Slight wear at the top right corner. Several larger brown marks. Folding plate, original center fold as issued.

This is an original antique map, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.