BRISTOL BRIGHTSTOWE
£495
Superb original town plan of Bristol from Braun & Hogenberg atlas of cities throughout the world entitled “Civitates Orbis Terrarum” first published in 1572.
The plan, initially appearing in 1581, presents a detailed bird’s eye view of 16th century Bristol showing its protective walls, castle, churches and local residents in period clothing. The left side of the map contains a key identifying 15 important locations in the city. A description of the city appears verso in Latin.
This example is uncoloured as originally issued. Good strong impression.
Excellent hand colour
Very good condition
Ref Van der Krogt 4, 651, State 1; Fauser, #1972; Taschen, Br. Hog., p. 204.
Publication from: From: Civitates Orbis Terrarum. . Liber tertius. Cologne, Gottfried von Kempen, 1581. (Van der Krogt 4, 41:1.3)
code : M5156
Cartographer : BRAUN & HOGENBERG
Date : 1581
Size : 33*49 cms
availability : Available
Price : £495
Georg Braun (1541-1622) and Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590) were co-publishers of the monumental Civitates Orbis Terrarum, “the earliest systematic city atlas” (Koeman), published from 1572 onwards. Designed as a companion to Ortelius’ world atlas the Theatrum, this enormous work, which was expanded to six volumes by 1617 incorporating over 500 plans and views, must be viewed as one of the most ambitious book producing ventures of all time, and certainly, with Ortelius’ Theatrum and Blaeu’s Atlas Maior among the greatest achievements in the history of cartography.
Braun compiled the accompanying text, printed on the reverse of the engraved sheets, while the plans were engraved by Hogenberg, who had also prepared some of the maps for Ortelius’ Theatrum. Hogenberg used generally up-to-date and accurate maps, surveys and reports from local sources to compile this collection of plans and bird’s-eye views of all the major towns of Europe, some African, Middle Eastern and Indian towns, and the New World cities of Mexico and Cusco. One of the major contributors was Georg (or Joris) Hoefnagel, who supplied some 63 manuscript drawings, the vast majority from personal observation.
