Braun & Hogenberg's
Civitates Orbis Terrarum
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Braun and Hogenberg's Civitates Orbis Terrarum is one of the most important works from the early days of modern cartography and topographical illustration. Georg Braun, the editor, and Frans Hogenberg, the engraver, worked for over twenty years to produce their "towns of the world," the first systematic depiction of views of cities throughout the world. This impressive production, issued in six volumes from 1572 to 1617, was a monumental piece of Renaissance learning and was designed to complement Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas. These two atlases, both firsts of their type, were in response to a new interest in the nature of the world by the Western European population. This nascent interest was spurred both by the existence of a growing middle class and the relatively new general availability of printed books.
The following prints were issued in Cologne in Braun & Hogenberg's Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Each is a copper engraving and is in very good condition, except as noted.
Alhama, Spain
Georg Hoefnagel. "Alhama." Volume II; 1574. Original hand color. 13 3/8 x 18. Some waviness to paper from color. Latin text on verso.
A view of the small town of Alhama, southwest of Granada, drawn by Georg Hoefnagel in 1563. The town is shown across a valley in a mountainous countryside. Typically, local inhabitants are shown in the foreground, lending cultural interest to this interesting topographical image. $750
Bordeaux, France
"Civitatis Burdegalensis In Aquitanea." Volume I; 1572. One section of multiple image page; 6 1/4 x 8 3/4. Original hand color. Remargined at top and left. Very good condition.
Despite being but one part of what was originally an multiple image sheet, this is a wonderful view of the important French city of Bordeaux. The city walls are clearly depicted, as is the Roman amphitheater. Along the quay and in the bay are shown numerous trading vessels, no doubt loading Bordeaux's famous wine. $475
Bristol, England
William Smith. "Brightstovve, vulgo; quondam venta, floretissimum Angliae Emporium." Volume III; 1588. 13 1/4 x 17 1/8. Original hand color.
This view of the important west England market town of Bristol was drawn by William Smith in 1568. It shows this booming market town straddling the River Avon. $950
Cologne, Germany
"Colonia Agrippina." Volume I, 1572. Original hand color. 13 1/4 x 19. Latin text on verso.
An impressive bird's eye view of one of the great urban centers in Europe in the sixteenth century. The streets of Cologne are laid out within the enveloping walls, with many vessels tied to the quay along the Rhine River. Tilled fields surround the city. A cartouche with a classical motif reflects on the Roman history of Cologne, while three figures in contemporary native dress stand in the foreground at left. $1,800
Hardales, Spain
Georg Hoefnagel. "Hardales." Volume II, 1574. Half sheet; 7 1/2 x 19. Original hand color.
Showing the small town of Los Hardales, near Cadiz, and it was drawn by Georg Hoefnagel in 1564. The town is shown at the foot of the steep hill at the top of which sits the castle. The image shows two travelers on the road as they approach the town from Malaga. $450
Lille, France
"Lille/Insula/Ryssels." Volume III, 1581. 13 x 17. Original hand color. Light waterstain in margin and some wear at lower centerfold. Map expertly conserved and lined.
It shows the city of Lille (Ryssel in Flemish), which was the medieval capital of Flanders and the residence of the Dukes of Burgundy during the 16th century. The town, clearly presented as the island after which it was named, is laid out neatly from above, surrounded by fields. Three costumed figures stand in the foreground besides a numbered key in an elaborate cartouche. Two crests in the upper corner complete the artistic elements of the image. $850
Oxford & Windsor, England
"Oxonium/Vindesorium." Volume II, 1575. 14 5/8 x 19 1/8. Engraving by F. Hogenberg. Full hand color. Very good condition.
The top view shows the town of Oxford from a nearby hill. The many spires of this early center of learning are rendered towering above a rural landscape, with two scholars depicted in the foreground to represent the University. The lower view is a ground-level image of the royal castle of Windsor with an Elizabethan party of men and women walking in the foreground. $1,100
Pesaro, Italy
"Pisaurum Vulgo Pezaro." Volume III, 1588. 11 x 15 1/2. Uncolored engraving. Latin text on verso.
This view shows the walled Italian seacoast town of Pezaro from an overlooking hill to the north. In the foreground stand two Italian ladies in elaborate local dress. $450
Plon, Germany
Henry Ranzovii. "Urbs Holsatiae Plona." Vol. V, 1598. 14 1/4 x 19 1/4. Original hand color. Some repaired wear and small hole at top centerfolod. Overall, very good condition. Latin text on verso.
Plon was an important town in northern Europe, for almost two centuries (including when this print was made) the seat of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plon. $750
Rostock, Germany
"Rostochium Urbs Vandalica Anseatica et Magapolitana." Vol. V, 1598+. 13 3/4 x 18 3/4. Strong and attractive original color. Very narrow margins top and bottom, and trimmed to border at sides, with minor chipping. Archival backing to provide strength. Overall very good condition. Latin text on verso.
Costumed typed citizens of Rostock, in the former East Germany, stand in the foreground. The Warnow River with ships and boats is in the mid-ground, and the city in profile is in background with many particular buildings identified. $750
Sneeck/Sloten/Doccum/Ylst, Netherlands
"Sneecha. vulgo Sneeck Frisiæ Occidentalis Oppidum"/ "Sloten"/ "Doccum"/ "Ylstæ." Volume IV, 1588. Original hand color. 13 3/4 x 16 1/4. Minor repaired tears at edges. Latin text on verso.
Plans of these four small Dutch towns appear in separate panels, along with two Dutch couples in local dress. $650
Szczecin, Poland
"Alten Stettin." Volume IV; 1581. 13 1/4 x 18 3/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Old Arabic manuscript writing in margins.
This view shows the city of Szczecin in Poland (called Stettin for much of its history). This city, a major port near the mouth of the Oder River, was an ancient settlement of considerable mercantile importance, joining the Hanseatic League in 1360. The city changed hands many times over the years, finally being assigned to Poland at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. This image shows the booming city from above, the Oder river teeming with ships and the major buildings and homes of the city clearly laid out and many labeled. Also with Arabic script in the margins. $850
Trento, Italy
"Tridentum. Trient." Volume III; 1588. 13 1/2 x 18 1/4. Enhanced, original hand color. French text on verso.
An important Renaissance center (site of the Council of Trent, 1545-63). The town is shown with city walls on three sides and the Adige River providing the protection on the fourth (crossed by an impressive fortified bridge) The most impressive features are the castle and the Duomo (Cathedral of Saint Vigilio), the latter located in the center of the town on the Piazza Duomo. Four figures in Italian dress are depicted in the foreground. $1,150
Tunis, Tunisia
"Tunes Urbs." Volume II; 1574. Hand color. 12 5/8 x 16 3/8. Latin text on verso.
A dramatic image of the city along the Barbary coast. The image is a bird's eye view looking down from the north, with the city, its waterways and fortifications clearly laid out below. What is particularly interesting is that this print shows the siege of Tunis by the Turks in 1574. When issued that year, this print would have provided its viewers with a contemporary image of this important event which occurred well to the south across the Mediterranean. The siege ended with the Spanish forced out of Tunis, which then became a Turkish regency. $1,250
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