Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Detail from Vermeer's 1657
Officer and Laughing Girl.
Would you care for a little paint-
ing with your map, Mr. Vermeer?
Until a wider variety of maps became available in the late sixteenth century, the Cam-
bridge study found, collectors were interested in only two kinds of maps: world maps and
mapsoftheHolyLand.WhenLeonarddecidedtofocushiscollection,hechoseHolyLand
maps as well. His map library now holds nine hundred such maps, including at least one
from every cartographer who ever charted Palestine.
“Why the Holy Land?” I ask.
“There was a lot of stuff that was cost-effective. I'd been to Israel a few times, but the
real thing was, I wanted to do something unique, something different.” While still a practi-
cingphysician,hetellsme,heoncepresentedapaperonararepregnancydisease.Because
therewereonlythirty-five recordedcasesinhistory,hebecame theworld'sleadingauthor-
ity. “In other words, if you're going to specialize, specialize as much as possible.”
“And it probably had something to do with your Jewish faith or heritage?” I venture.
“No! Why would I hang pictures of Jesus on my wall?” Sure enough, almost every
map on display has a large vignette of the Crucifixion adorning Jerusalem. Many of the
Christian devotion in mind. “Once you become a collector”—he shrugs—“you have to
keep an open mind.”
Leonard knows who his rival collectors in the Holy Land niche are: two in New York
andoneattheUniversityofJerusalem.Butheavoidsmostofthecutthroatbidding.“Afew
maps were too expensive, and I'm happy to have a facsimile. I'd rather have the original,
but you have to draw the line somewhere.” Not all collectors are so good at drawing that
