Beautiful copy of the 1714 Keur edition of the Dutch States Bible, printed on large paper and illustrated with the six large Keur-maps by Bastiaan Stoopendaal. They were explicitly made for the Keur Bibles with, for example, Bible scenes (rather than figures from classical mythology) decorating the world map. The engraved title pages, maps, portraits and many vignettes have been coloured by a contemporary hand. Additionally, the title pages and maps have been beautifully heightened with gold.
The world map shows two hemispheres, a copernican solar system in the upper and a ptolemaic in the lower smaller circle. The four continents are symbolically represented in the four corners. The map of the Near East, where paradise was assumed to have been located, contains cartouches with five biblical scenes, namely Adam in paradise, the creation of Eve, the seduction by the snake, the expulsion from paradise and the flood.
The map depicting the journey of the Israelites through the desert and the land of Israel also has biblical scenes from this period in the lower border, and the route from Egypt to Israel has been indicated. The plan of Jerusalem is after Villalpando, and seen from the east. The borders have depictions of King Solomon and the Hight Priest, temple objects, and a plan and view of the Temple.
The fifth map shows the land of Israel at the time of Jesus, with the adoration by the shepherds, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the four evangelists in the lower border. The map of the eastern Mediterranean, outlining the journeys of Paul, has eight scenes from the Book of Acts in its upper and lower border, Pentecost, the healing of a lame man by Peter and John, the death of Ananias and Saphira, the stoning of Stephen, Paul on the road to Damascus, Simeon the magician, Paul and Silas greeted as gods, and Paul bitten by a snake.
Included in the present binding is Jacob Basnage's 't Groot waerelds tafereel, with a map of Jerusalem and 140 engravings by Romeyn de Hooghe. Every engraving is accompanied by an explanation and a poem by A. Alewyn, who translated Basnage's work into Dutch.
The binding has been restored at the head and foot, but is still somewhat fragile due to its immense size. Some of the leaves with some foxing and/or small stains in the margins, a slight water stain in the bottom margin throughout, the work of Basnage has been slightly browned throughout, as usual, with a small tear in the map of Jerusalem. Otherwise in very good condition. Ad 1: Darlow & Moule 3337; STCN 269499407 (15 copies); Ad 2: Poortman, Bijbel en Prent 2, pp. 111-221; STCN 294723633 (2 copies); for the maps: Poortman & Augusteijn, pp. 193-203 (large maps, second plates, second state - GII2); for the binding: Storm van Leeuwen I, pp. 228-284, mainly see stamp D on p. 276.