Bochart Samuel, "Geographiae Sacrae”, Cadomi (Caen) Cardonelle, 1646. The extremely rare First edition (only 100 copies printed) of the most influential geographical work of the 17th century. Folio (34x24cm), pp. 864. Complete with 4 double page or folded plates of maps containing all Bochart’s original 13 maps. Bochart (1599-1667) was a famous Protestant Theologian and Geographer of the 17th century. His Sacred Geography is the first systematic effort to approach the ancient geography of the Bible, by attempting to identify the actual position of the Biblical places. His original manuscript (now in BNF) was written in the 1630s and contained 13 maps. He lived in Caen (Normandy) and there he managed publish his work after 10 years of efforts. The result was an impressive printing achievement, as five alphabets (Latin, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew and Ethiopian) has been used in a single publication for the first time in history. Due to high printing costs, he embedded his 13 maps in just 4 plates and was able to print only 100 copies. The success was remarkable and the work was reissued in 1651 and 1673, while luxurious editions (with 13 plates) followed in 1692 and 1707. Contemporary full calf, slightly rubbed. A clean and very good copy. Bochard’s master work on Sacred Geography in its first extremely rare edition.