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.

This engaging view of Luxembourg fully illustrates its defensive position on mountainous terrain. Three sections make up the view. At top is a view of the Upper Town, located on a rocky plateau above the Alzette Valley, where the Old Town lies. A tower appearing near the bridge in the foreground of this view is a part of the beautiful palace and its formal gardens illustrated in the view at bottom. At right is the Igel Column, a funerary monument to the Scundinii family of cloth merchants on the Roman road from Trier to Luxembourg. Latin text on verso.

References: Fussel p. 376.

Condition: B+

On watermarked paper with light toning and dampstaining that are mostly confined to the blank margins. There is an archival repair to a tiny hole along the upper centerfold, and there are remnants of hinge tape on verso. A printer's crease runs adjacent to the lower centerfold.