Canaan Divided into the Twelve Tribes, Antique Hand-Colored Map, 1823

This is an original antique copper engraved map with original hand coloring, published in 1823 as plate VI of James Wyld's Geographia Sacra, or Scripture Atlas. The title, engraved in the upper left corner, reads "CANAAN, Divided into TWELVE TRIBES. Joshua. Chap. 13 to 19."

The whole of Canaan is divided among the tribes, from Great Zidon and Damascus in the north to Kadesh Barnea and the wilderness of Zin in the south, each allotment outlined and washed in color. The Mediterranean, or Great Sea, closes the sheet on the left, the Jordan runs down the middle into the Dead Sea, and the Moabites and Ammonites are lettered along the eastern edge. A scale of British Statute Miles sits below the title. At the lower right an explanation keys royal cities, Levitical cities and cities of refuge, with modern names underlined. Below it a note headed "NOTE." lists the names the country has borne, from the Land of Canaan and Palestine to the Land of Promise, the Land of Israel, the Land of Judah and the Holy Land, and ends "It is at present under the dominion of the Turks."

Under the lower left corner of the border is the credit "J. Wyld del.", under the lower right corner "G. Neele Sculp.", and centered between them the imprint "London, Published by G & W. B. Whittaker, April 1823." The plate number "VI." is engraved above the upper right corner of the border.

The sheet belongs to Geographia Sacra, or Scripture Atlas, issued in London in 1823 by G. and W. B. Whittaker. On the engraved title page of the atlas Wyld is described as "of the Quarter Master General's Office, Horse Guards". James Wyld the elder (1790 to 1836) was a London geographer and map publisher.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Marked handling soiling along all four edges. Foxing over much of the margin. All four corners are present. Several larger brown marks. Original center fold as issued.

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