THE HOLY LAND IN COPPERPLATE

Pritius, Johann Georg (1662–1732) ; Hofmann, Carl Gottlob (1703–1774) [Editor] Jo. Georgii Pritii

Introductio in lectionem Novi Testamenti [First Hofmann Edition] [Eight Folding Maps & Plans] [Vellum]

Lipsiae (Leipzig): Apud Jo. Frider. Gleditschii B. Filium, 1737.

The significant first edition edited by Carl Gottlob Hofmann, representing the definitive 18th-century expansion of this foundational work on New Testament textual criticism.

This specimen is distinguished by its complete suite of eight folding copperplate maps and architectural plans, providing a sophisticated geographical and visual apparatus for biblical scholarship. It remains a primary document of the Lutheran Pietist movement, preserved in its original vellum binding.

This is the first edition of Pritius’s 'Introductio' to feature the massive the scholarly Enlightenment revisions and expansions of Carl Gottlob Hofmann. Beyond its theological weight, this copy functions as a portable biblical atlas, containing eight detailed folding copperplates including bird’s-eye views of Jerusalem and the Temple. It is a 'Total Object' of 1730s German book production, offering both rigorous textual analysis and high-level cartographic art.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Complete with 8 folding copperplate maps, plans, and charts. Features an engraved frontispiece and woodcut printer's devices.
+++ Binding: Contemporary full vellum; hand-lettered title to spine. Original 'spotted' or soiled aging consistent with period handling. Text block edges with dark blue stain.
+++ Imprint: Lipsiae (Leipzig): Jo. Frider. Gleditschii, 1737.
+++ Specs: Octavo (8vo); approx. 8.25 inches tall.
+++ Collation: [24], 596, [20] pp.

CONDITION — The full contemporary vellum is structurally sound and square, though the covers exhibit characteristic 18th-century soiling and light staining, particularly to the front board. The spine is firm with a small circular paper call-tag. Internally, the text block is tight and the pages are complete. There is moderate, even foxing throughout, typical of the high-acid paper stocks used in 1730s Leipzig. The folding maps and plates are remarkably well-preserved; folds are crisp with minor ghosting/transfer but no significant separations at the hinges.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Textual Criticism: Documents the early transition of New Testament studies from purely dogmatic interpretation to historical-critical analysis.
+++ Design & Typography: A classic example of Gleditsch's Leipzig typography, utilizing a mix of Roman and Italic fonts to distinguish between the original Pritius text and Hofmann’s extensive new notes.
+++ Topographical Scholarship: The inclusion of the Jerusalem and Temple plans serves as a primary source for how 18th-century scholars reconstructed ancient sacred spaces.
+++ The Hofmann Priority: This 1737 edition is the 'preferred' state for researchers, as Hofmann added numerous dissertations and corrections that were absent in Pritius's original 1704 text.
+++ Cartographic Excellence: Includes eight folding plates, most notably the detailed reconstruction of the Temple and the 'Graeciae Antiquae' map, which bridge the gap between theology and classical geography.
+++ Pietist Intellectual History: Pritius was a key figure in the Spener circle; this work demonstrates the movement's commitment to combining deep piety with rigorous linguistic and historical scrutiny.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Johann Georg Pritius was a central architect of the Lutheran Pietist movement. His 'Introductio' was designed to strip away medieval scholasticism and return the student to a direct, linguistically accurate engagement with the Greek New Testament. It became the standard manual for divinity students throughout Germany and Northern Europe.

The 1737 edition marks a turning point in the work's history. Carl Gottlob Hofmann, a titan of Wittenberg theology, utilized this edition to 'modernize' the text for the Enlightenment era. By adding maps and updated historical dissertations, Hofmann ensured the work remained relevant in an age increasingly obsessed with archaeological and geographical precision.

SUBJECTS: Biblical Criticism, New Testament History, Cartography, Holy Land, Leipzig Printing, Pietism, Carl Gottlob Hofmann, Illustrated Book, Maps & Atlases, Religion.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Graesse V, 449; Winer II, 3.

Item #21835

Price: $600.00