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 lovely bird's eye plan of the city of Enkhuizen, Netherlands. Enkhuizen was at the peak of its power in the mid-17th century. It was one of the most important harbor cities in the Netherlands until it lost its position to Amsterdam, in part due to the silting up of the harbors. A mermaid holds up a numbered key at right, which lists numerous important buildings and locations on the map and features the coat of arms of the city. Two 15th century churches tower over the city: the Zuiderkerk or Sint-Pancraskerk (33), and the Westerkerk or Sint-Gommaruskerk (2). The map is adorned with numerous ships sailing the Ijsselmeer, cannons along the city's fortifications, and windmills. This plan was based off an etching by Lucas Jansz Waghenaer, a cartographer from Enkhuizen. Latin text on verso.

References: Fussel, p. 230-31.

Condition: A

On a clean, watermarked sheet with a few tiny holes only visible when held to light.