Braun & Hogenberg's Civitates Orbis Terrarum or "Cities of the World" was published between 1572 and 1617. Within the six volumes, 531 towns and cities were depicted on 363 plates, providing the reader with the pleasures of travel without the attendant discomforts. Braun wrote in the preface to the third book, "What could be more pleasant than, in one's own home far from all danger, to gaze in these books at the universal form of the earth . . . adorned with the splendor of cities and fortresses and, by looking at pictures and reading the texts accompanying them, to acquire knowledge which could scarcely be had but by long and difficult journeys?" Braun and Hogenberg incorporated an astonishing wealth of information into each scene beyond the city layout and important buildings. The plates provide an impression of the economy and prominent occupations, and illustrate local costumes, manners and customs.

A decorative pair of bird's-eye views on a folio sheet with Latin text on verso. Toledo is shown built around the Alcazar and the cathedral and protected by the Tagus River that is spanned by two Moorish bridges. The lower view of Valladolid includes scenes of farmers working the cultivated fields. The plate shows evidence of cracks in the lower portion of the view, indicating this as a later impression.

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Condition: B+

A sturdy sheet with original hand coloring that is slightly smudges in the top map. A faint damp stain at the margin just intrudes into the border at top. The wide original margins have a few short tears that have been neatly repaired on the verso.