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Braun and Hogenberg's Six-Volume Atlas of the Cities of the World. In a Highly Unusual and Desirable Format -- Complete and Bound by Subject. Extremely Handsome 18th Century Full Crushed Red Morocco.

Six parts in three volumes. Folio. 18th-century full red morocco (probably Italian but possibly French); covers with three-line gilt rule; spines in eight compartments with raised bands rolled with gilt, lettered in the second and third: "Civitates Orbis Terrarum." and "Tom. I. II." etc., the other compartments with elaborate repeat decoration of central flower and small leaf tools; edges finished with repeat swirling ink design; marbled endpapers.

363 double-page plates of city views ENTIRELY BOUND BY SUBJECT TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OF A SOPHISTICATED 18TH-CENTURY BIBLIOPHILE. Six engraved title pages. Letterpress indexes. Latin text. (Complete. See below for a comprehensive collation.)

Civitates Orbis Terrarum: The Greatest City Book

Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg began the process of creating a comprehensive atlas of the cities of the world in 1572. Their book, Civitates Orbis Terrarum, was originally intended as a companion to Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first true atlas.

The great atlas was edited by Georg Braun, with Franz Hogenberg engraving many of the views. When the project was finished, the series would contain over 546 views (sometimes with multiple views on a single plate).

Georg Braun (1541-1622) was born and died in Cologne. His primary vocation was as Catholic cleric; he spent thirty-seven years as canon and dean at the church St. Maria ad Gradus, in Cologne. As principal editor of the Civitates, he was assisted by Abraham Ortelius in the work.

Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590) was one of the greatest engravers of his generation. Not only did he engrave most of the plates for Civitates, but he was also responsible for many of those included in Ortelius's Theatrum as well. It is possible that Hogenberg was responsible for initiating the publication of the Civitates. Hogenberg also enriched the views with figures in the foreground representing local fashions.

Civitates Orbis Terrarum includes the work of over 100 artists and topographers, perhaps most notable among them was the superlative talent of Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600). He provided original drawings of Spanish and Italian towns, as well as reworking and improving the town drawings of other artists. After Joris's death, his son Jakob continued the project.

Jacob van Deventer (1505-1575) is also represented in the form of plans of towns of the Netherlands. Stumpf's woodcuts from the Schweizer Chronik of 1548 were also used as sources, as were Sebastien Munster's German views from the 1550 and 1572 editions of his Cosmographia. Heinrich von Rantzau (1526-1599) was the source for the Danish city views.

The Civitates provides an incredible comprehensive view of urban life in the late 16th century. Many of the views in these volumes are the earliest of their respective towns -- either absolutely, or they are predated only by impossible rarities, as in the case of London. As such, this singular and indispensable source for understanding the early modern world.

Collation :

Engraved Title "Civita/tes Or/bis Ter/rarum / Liber Primus"
[2-5] pages
[1] blank
[British Isles]
Londinium
Palatium Regium... Nonciutz
Cantarbury
Civitas Exoniae
Brightstovve
Oxonium [with] Vindesorium
Norduuicum
Cantebrigia
Cestria
Yorke [with] Shrowesbury [etc.]
Edenburg
Galwaye [with] Dubline [etc]
[Portugal]
Libsona [with] Cascale
Olissippo
Noua Bracarae...
Conimbriae
[Spain]
Santander
Bilbao
Nobilis... Biscaina
Burgos [with] Sanct. Sebastianum
Escoriali
Toletum
Toletum [with] Vallisoletum
Corduba
Barcelona [with] Eciia
Hispalis
Sevilla
Sevilla [with] Cadiz [with] Malaga
Sant Juan del foratche Jerenna Turris Templi Maioris Hispalensis
Marchena [with] Osuna
Palacios [with] Alcantara [with] Cabecas
Cadiz [with] Gades
Gades Ab Occiduis Insulae...
Conil [with] Xeres
Vegel [with] Mallaga
Zahara
Nebrissa [with] Septenilium
Hardales [with] Cartama
Antequera
Alhama
Archidona [etc.]
Granata
Amoeniss. [etc.]
Granata
Loxa
[France]
Caletum
Lutetia, vulgari nomine Paris
Porrait des Chasteaux Ro De Sainct Germain...
... Chartres
Bloys
Aurelia
Orleans...
Tours...
Rotomagus
Rotomagus [with] Nemausus, Nismes
Monspessulanus, Montpellier [with] Turo, Tours [etc.]
Saintes
Pictavia [with] La pierre levee demie lieue de Poictiers
Rochella
Augustodunum...
Gratianopolis... [with] Romans Delfinatus
Lyon...
Lugdunum
Matiscona... [with] Cabillinum
Massilia
Urbs Avinionensis
Index Alphabeticus Libri I. Civitatum.
Engraved title: De Praecipu/is, Totius U/niversi Ur/bibus...
[7] pages of text.
[France, continued]
Vesontio
Urbis Nancei...
Metis
Description de la ville de Bar
Blanmont
[Switzerland]
Tigurum [with] Ursina [with] Lucerna [etc.]
Tigurum
Basilea
Constantia [with] S. Galli Opp...
[Italy]
Geneva [with] Florentia
Novaria
Mediolanum
Parma [with] Sena [etc.]
Mantua
Venetia
Augusti Apud Venetos Templi...
Palma
Sera Vallum...
Vicentia
Patavium
Verona
Bononia
Luca
Arimium
Pisaurum
Urbino [with] Urbino [with] Sulmo Ovidii Patria
Ancona
Orivetum [with] Lauretum
Perusia
Caprarola
Tybur
Antiquae Urbis Romae [top and bottom sheet]
Urbis Romae Situs...
Roma
Ostia
Taruisium
Velitrae
Terracina
Fondi
Calatia
Puteoli [with] Baiae
Mola
Elegantissimus Ad Mare Tyrrhenum...
Neapolis
Campaniae Felicis Deliciae
Antrum Sibyllae Cumanae
Forum Vulcani
Nuceria
Tricaricum
Gallipolis
Messana
Prospectus Freti Siculi
Catana
Paermo
Libri II. De Praecipuis Totius Universi Urbibus, Index.
Urbium Praecipuarum Totius Mundi. Liber Tertius.
[Flanders and adjoining towns]
Lovanium
Bruxella
Anverpia
[Antwerp text, 4 pages]
Antverpia
Tienen
Lira
Lympurch
Luxembourg
Lucenburgum [etc.]
Gandauum
Brugae
Hypra Flandriarum Civitas
Groninga
Groninga [with] Brouersavia [with] Goricum
Bogenbosch
Tshertoglenbosch [etc.]
Bergen op Zoom
Maestricht
Traiectum
Sluys
Wesalia
Emuda
Aquisgranum
Ostenda
Aelst
Duwynkjercke. [etc.]
Lille Insula
Dovay
Tornacum
Arras
S. Audomari Fanum S.
Hesdyn Fort
Bethunae Urbis Artesiae Genvina Descrip.
Mons
Mons [with] Arras
Nobilis Hannoniae
Valenchiennes
Philippe Ville [with] Mariebourg [with] Chimay [with] Walcourt
Namur
Namurcum
Charlemont [with[ Landrechies [with] Avesnes [with] Beaumont
Nitidissimae Civitatis Mechlineensis
Cambray
Cambray
Huum Opp. Condrusoru Caput
Noviomacium...
Noviomagium sive Nouioma
Zutphen
Arnhemium [etc.]
Herderuvicia [etc.]
Dordracum
Dordrecht
Harlemum
Delft
Leyden
Amstelodamum
Amsterdamum
Gouda
Rotterdam
Roterodamum
Brilium, Holandiae Opp.
Enckhusa
Hagae Comitis
Middelburgum
Flissinga
Traiectum
Amorfortia...
Leevwaerden [with] Franicker
Bolzvardia [with] Savria [with] Harlinga [with] Hindelop
Sneecha [with] Doccum [with] Sloten [with] Ylstae
Liberae et Hanseaticae Urbis Daventriensis Delineatio
Campensis
Campen
Swol
Libri III de Praecip VI Totius Universi Orbis Urbibus Index
Liber Quartus Urbium Praecipuarum Totius Mundi
[Scandinavia]
Bergen
Stockholm [with] Stockholm
Visbia Gothorum
Dania
Hafnia [with] ...
Freti Danici or Sundt Accuratiss Delineatio
Topographia Inslae Huenae in celebri porthmo Regni Daniae
Helsheborch [with] Lunden [with] Elbogen [with] Landeskron
... Othenarum
Toninga [with] Husum
Slesvicum
Elsenor [with] Ripen
Husemum Ducatus [with] Haderslebia
Colding Schlos und Stae
Oitinense [with] Tonderensis
Diversi Dithmarsorum et Vicinarum gentium habitus
Icon oppidi Heide [with] Delineatio urbis Meldorpie
Flensburgum [with] Itzohoa
Crempa [with] ... Oldsburga
Chilonium
Ekelenforda
Henrici Ranzovii...
Arx Segeberga...
Mons Regis... [with] Riga
[Poland]
[Craovia, 4 pages of text]
Carcovia Metro...
Carcovia Minoris...
Mons Calvariae
Varsovia.
Dantzige
Sendomiria [with] Biecz
Posnania [with] Crosno
Tipus Civitatis Lublinesis
Lovicensis Civitas Quae Est Archiepiscopa
Zamoscium
Leopolis
Premislia...
Vilna Lituaniae Metropolis...
Grodna.
[Russia]
Moscauw
Moscovia Urbis Metropolis Totius...
[Germany]
Lubeca Urbs Imperialis... [with] Hamurga
Ratzenburgk
Hamburgum
Luneborch.
Munden
Bardewick
Wiismaria
Rostochium Urbs Vandalica Anseatica et Megapolitana
Bardum Pomeraniae
Alten Stettin
Wittenburga [with] Civitas Francfordiensis [with] Wismaria [with] Rostochium
Salinae Saxonicae [with] Hildesheim
Dresden [with] Leibzigk
Lispiae Insignis Saxoniae
Misena, Hermundurorum Urbs.
Fribergum Misinae
Scopa vulae Schuepa
Marienberg Misniae Civitas
Penigk Misniae Oppidum
Index Alphabeticus Libri Quarti Civitatum.
Urbium Praecipuarum Mundi Theatrum Quintum Auctore Georgio Braunio Agrippinate
Halberstadium [with] Quedelinburga
Eisleben [with] Tubingen
Weinmar
Weimaria [with] Iena [with] Erdfordia [with] Gotha [with] Fuldensis Civitatis
Brunopolis Vulgo Brunscuicum [with] Luneburgum [with] Brema [with] Aldenburgum Holsatiae
Magdeburgum
Soest
Soest [with] Warborch
Lippe [with] Dortmund
Werden [with] Essend
Arnsberg
Brema
Staden
Monasterium [with] Osnabrugum [with] Wesalia
Cliviam [with] Duisburgum [with] Embrica [with] Gennapium
Calcaria
Colonia Agrippina
Novesium [with] Verona [with] Brula [with] Sontina
Celimham [with] ... Manderscheidt
...Cocheimensis [with] Exactissima Civitatis Monasteriensis in Campo Meyfeldensi...
...Ober Wesll [with] ...Boppart
Dillenburg [with] Segen
Marpurg [with] Cassel
Eschwege [with] Fritzlar
Francenbergum...
Bambergae...
Budingen
Civitas Francofordiana Ad Moe...
Heidelberga [with] Spira [with] Wormatia
Ments [with] Wurtzburg [with] Sitten
Hailbrunna [with] Mulhusium [with] Reutlinga
Argentoratum
Wissenburgum [with] Rubeacum [with] Colmaria [with] Badense Oppidum
Augustam...
[Middle East & Eastern Mediterranean]
Byzantium Nunc Constantinopolis
Damascus
Ierusalem, et suburbiaeius [top and bottom sheets]
Haec est Ierusalem
Calaris [with] Malta [with] Rhodus [with] Famagusta
Chios
Candia [with] La Cita de Corphu
Sibinium [with] Parens [with] Modon
Hierosolyma
[Indian Ocean and Africa]
Calechut [with] Ormus [with] Canonor [with] S. Georgii
Anfa [with] Azaamurum [with] Diu. [with] Goa
Aden [with] Mombaza [with] Quiloa [with] Cefala
Alexandria
Cairus
Tunes [with] Africa Aphrodisium [with] Penon de Veles.
Tunetis Urbis
Algerii
Tingis [with] Tzaffin [with] Septa [with] Arzilla [with] Sala
[Americas]
Mexico [with] Cusco
[Central and Southeastern Europe]
Wratislavia
Nissa Silesior [with] Liginicium
Die Stat Swybuschin
Palatium Imperatorum Pragae [with] Praga Regni Bohemiae metropolis
Praga. [with] Egra
Czaslavium [with] Commoda vulgo Comethau
Lavna [with] Schlanium
Polna vulgo Polm
Campidonia
Hala
Brixia Tyrolis [with] Laubinga
Oenipons...
Oeniponticae [with] Schlosberg
Oenipontis
Tridentum
Ratisbona
Patavia
Monachium Utriusque Bavariae Civitas Primar.
Monacum [with] Ingolstadium [with] Frisingensis [with] Nordlinga [with] Ratispona [with] Straubinga
Landshutum
Nurnberg [with] Ulm [with] Urbis Salisburgensis [with] Lindaw
Nurnberg
Gorlitz
Quinti Urbium Theatri Index. [3 pages]
Theatri Praecipuarum Totius Mundi Urbium Liber Sextus Anno M. DC. XVIII.
Serenissimo et Potentissimo... [2 pages]
Vienna [with] Buda
Znaymum
Vienna Austriae
Brunn
Lincium Austraie oppidum
Ens Austraiae Civitas
Gmunden
Eisenstadium [with] Mannersdorf
S. Polid
Claudiopolis Coloswar vulgo Clausenburg
Petrina [with] Petrina
Saltzburgk
Castanowiz
Pressburg
Zaros
Cassovia
Varadinum
Buda
Sanctonicolaum
Papa Inferioris Hungariae Oppidum
Dotis
Strigonium. Gran. [with] Strigonium. Gran.
Palanka
Zolnock
Leodium
Terveris Confluentia Rotenburgum
Sarburgum
Novesium [upside down]
Agria
Owar [with] Vizzegrad germanice Plindeburg
Comorra [with] Comorra
Iaverinum vulgo Rab
Index Generalis Alphabeticus in Sex Libros Civitatum [4 pages]