A fine 2 sheet map centered on Palestine on both sides of the Jordan, divided among the Tribes and according to the division into provinces of the Roman time. Very nice title cartouche on the upper left-hand corner, published by Joseph-Nicolas De l' Isle (or Delisle) (1688-1768).
An astronomer, geographer of the Marine and professor at the 'Académie Royale des Sciences'. The map itself was originally made by his brother, Guillaume De l' Isle (1675-1726), who was a geographer of the king of France, and a member of the Académie des sciences.
Joseph-Nicolas found the map in his brother's belongings. He considered it of such importance for the understanding of the Holy Books, that he decided to publish it.
With the address of the co-publisher Lattré.
RARE.

The 2 sheets joined would form a large map of approx. 25.7 x 19.3 inches or 65.2 x 49.0 cm.
From "Atlas moderne ou collection de cartes sur toutes les parties du globe terrestre ar plusieurs auteurs".

Guillaume De L'Isle (1675-1726) is probably the greatest figure in French cartography. Having learned geography from his father Claude, by the age of eight or nine he could draw maps to demonstrate ancient history. He studied mathematics and astronomy under Cassini, from whom he received a superb grounding in scientific cartography—the hallmark of his work. His first atlas was published in ca. 1700. In 1702 he was elected a member of the Academie Royale des Sciences and in 1718 he became Premier Geographe du Roi.

De L'Isle's work was important as marking a transition from the maps of the Dutch school, which were highly decorative and artistically orientated, to a more scientific approach. He reduced the importance given to the decorative elements in maps, and emphasized the scientific base on which they were constructed. His maps of the newly explored parts of the world reflect the most up-to-date information available and did not contain fanciful detail in the absence of solid information. It can be fairly said that he was truly the father of the modern school of cartography at the commercial level.

De L’Isle also played a prominent part in the recalculation of latitude and longitude, based on the most recent celestial observations. His major contribution was in collating and incorporating this latitudinal and longitudinal information in his maps, setting a new standard of accuracy, quickly followed by many of his contemporaries. Guillaume De L’Isle’s work was widely copied by other mapmakers of the period, including Chatelain, Covens & Mortier, and Albrizzi.

Reference: Laor, 244.