The ‘Theatrum Terrae Sanctae’ was first published posthumously in 1590, and is divided into three main parts: the geography of Palestine; and important description of Jerusalem; and a history of the world up to the death of St. John the Evangelist. Christian van Adrichom (1533-85) is thought to have been engaged for some thirty years in the compilation of this work. He had published a plan of Jerusalem in 1584, accompanied by a pamphlet describing some 270 places and sites in the city. Both the plan and the large map formed the basis of many copies and adaptations by many authors for some two hundred years. Van Adrichom was born of a noble family at Delft in the Netherlands, and died in exile at Cologne. Provenance: Francesco Novacco Collection; Sotheby’s London ‘Atlases, Americana, Travel and Navigation’ catalogue 24 June 1968 lot 2. Laor 7-26; Rohricht 791; Tobler p. 210.