LONDINUM FERACISSIMI ANGLIAE REGNI METROPOLIS

Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg-1580

25" x 19"

Our paternal ancestors migrated from Lancashire to London in the 15th century where they entered merchant banking, commerce, and law. This beautifully colored town plan of London is the earliest extant map of the city and is from the landmark Braun & Hogenberg atlas of cities throughout the world entitled Civitates Orbis Terrarum first published in 1572.  This is the second state of the plan, appearing in editions of the Civitates beginning in 1574, with the “Westmuster” spelling and containing the Royal Exchange. The plan is based on an earlier16th century survey of London as St. Paul’s is shown with its steeple that was destroyed in 1561. In showing details of building and landmarks, the map offers the viewer an insight into 16th century life in the city. On the south-bank of the Thames, both bull baiting and bear baiting arenas are shown, while beer houses appear in several locations on the north-bank. Typical of Civitates maps, noble residents of the city are shown in the foreground in period dress. A description of  London appears verso. in German.  

 

Georg Braun was born in 1542 and Frans Hogenberg around 1536. They were German publishers and engravers. Their most famous and sought after maps appeared in the six volume town book Civitates Orbis Terrarum between 1572 and 1618. The volumes were originally published in Latin then followed by German and French translations. The plates passed to Jan Janssonius who reissued the town books in 1657 while removing the costume figures on the plates. Braun died in 1622 and Hogenberg in 1588.

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