The Holy City of Jerusalem – Original Woodcut Illustration – 1570

A stunning colour woodcut showing a bird’s eye view of Jerusalem, dating from approximately 1570 in Basel.

Titled in the original German as: “Die Heylige Statt Jerusalem/ contrafehtet nach Form und Gestallt wie sie zu unsern zeiten erbawen ist”, or The Holy City of Jerusalem, depicted according to the form and shape as it was built in our time.”

From Sebastian Munster’s Cosmographia published by Heinrich Petri in Basel. Munster (1488-1552) was a prominent cartographer who taught at the University of Basel. His best-known work, the Cosmographia, first appeared in 1544 and was one of the earliest physical atlases of the world in the German language. It was heavily illustrated with woodcuts and went through several dozen editions in the 16th century.

Folded sheet with the colour woodcut inside, title to front and additional text to rear. All text in Germany. 40cm x 33cm (unframed).