[Volume 5] Civitates Orbis Terrarum (Civitates Orbis Terrarvm)

Creator(s):

Date: 1596

Regions:

Topics:

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum was the first atlas of world cities and one of the most important books published in the late 16th century. Edited by Georg Braun and largely engraved by Franz Hogenberg, the work eventually contained 546 prospects, bird-eye views and map views of cities from all over the world. The first volume of the Civitates Orbis Terrarum was published in Cologne in 1572. The sixth and the final volume appeared in 1617. Although led by Braun and Hogenberg, the books were created by a large team of writers, engravers, and artists. R.V. Tooley writes:

"The Civitates is one of the great books of the World... it was the first serious attempt to give graphic representations of the main cities of the World, with a wealth of factual detail. In the main, the buildings in each view are shown in elevation, and while the ordinary buildings are stylized, the principal buildings are reproduced from actual drawings on the spot, and these, and the main streets, can be recognized today.

Further, the editors gave additional factual information as a deliberately planned policy, such as the heraldic arms of the city, and the nature of the surrounding countryside, whether wooded or arable, grazing land, vineyards, or gardens. The importance of waterways is stressed by the careful delineation of stone bridges, wooden pontoons, flat-bottomed ferries, moles, wharves and jetties; the ports with ocean-going craft, the inland waters with river traffic. Varieties of land travel are depicted, pedestrians, horsemen, wagons, coaches, and palanquins.

Small vignettes illustrate the trade, occupations and habits of the locality, agriculture, paper-making and textiles. The law is represented by various forms of punishment, gibbets, wheels, floggings etc. A distinctive feature of the plates is the insertion of large figures in the foreground to illustrate local costume. Those figures are out of proportion necessarily. The general multiplication of detail slightly offends certain commentators who fail to appreciate the purpose of the editors.

Their primary aim was not to produce well-balanced landscapes, but to give as much information as possible in a pleasing visual form, in reality a kind of super guide book. This was done so magnificently that the result was an art as decorative as it was informative. The whole forms a wonderful compendium of life in Europe in the sixteenth century. And as city growth in early times, with a few obvious exceptions, was more or less static, even further it gives a visual printed record of mediaeval Europe, and is one of the most valuable sources remaining to the student and historian of these periods." (Tooley)

Braun, a cleric of Cologne, was the principal editor of the work, and was greatly assisted in his project by the close, and continued interest of Abraham Ortelius, whose Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of 1570 was, as a systematic and comprehensive collection of maps of uniform style, the first true atlas. The Civitates, indeed, was intended as a companion for the Theatrum, as indicated by the similarity in the titles and by contemporary references regarding the complementary nature of two works.

Nevertheless, the Civitates was designs to be more popular in approach, no doubt because the novelty of a collection of city plans and views represented a more hazardous commercial undertaking than a world atlas, for which there had been a number of successful precedents. Franz Hogenberg (1535-1590) was the son of a Munich engraves who settled in Malines. He engraved most of the plates for Ortelius's Theatrum and the majority of those in the Civitates, and may have been responsible for originating the project.

Over a hundred of different artists and cartographers, the most significant of whom was Antwerp artist Georg (Joris) Hoefnagel (1542-1600), engraved the cooper-plates of the Civitates from drawings. He not only contributed most of the original material for the Spanish and Italian towns but also reworked and modified those of other contributors. After Hoefnagel's death his son Jakob continued the work for the Civitates.

A large number of Jacob van Deventer (1505-1575), also known as Jacob Roelofszof, unpublished works, plans of towns of the Netherlands were copied, as were Stumpf's woodcuts from the Schweizer Chronik of 1548, and Munster's German views from the 1550 and 1572 editions of his Cosmographia. Another important source for maps was the Danish cartographer Heinrich van Rantzau (1526-1599), better known under his Latin name Rantzovius, who provided maps of Northern Europe, specially of Danish cities. The Civitates provided a uniquely comprehensive view of urban life at the turn of the sixteenth century. Other sources were the maps of Sebastian Munster from around 1550 and and of.

Braun added to the maps figures in local dress. This feature was anticipated in Hans Lautensack's etched view of Nuremberg, 1552, those groups of citizens in the rural foreground add further authenticity to the highly accurate topographical details of what was effectively Germany's cultural capital at that time. Braun's motives for adding figures to the views, however, went further: as stated in his introduction to book 1, he believed, perhaps optimistically, that his plans would not in consequence be scrutinized for military secrets by the Turks, as their religion forbade them from looking on representations of the human form.

The plans, each accompanies by Braun's printed account of the town's history, situation and commerce, form an armchair traveler's compendium, which the scholar Robert Burton in The Anatomy of Melancholy of 1621 asserted would not only provide instructions but would uplift the spirit as well.

Volumes:

  • [1] Civitates orbis terrarum, first edition 1572.
  • [2] De praecipuis, totius universi urbibus, liber secundus, first edition 1575.
  • [3] Urbium praecipuarum totius mundi, liber tertius, first edition 1581.
  • [4] Urbium praecipuarum totius mundi, liber quartus, first edition 1588.
  • [5] Urbium praecipuarum mundi theatrum quintum, first edition 1596.
  • [6] Theatri praecipuarum totius mundi urbium liber sextus, first edition 1617.

"Privilegium Caesareae maiestatis, which occurs in each volume generally on the reverse of the title page, refers to Francis Hogenberg as the author's collaborator."--Phillips. Colophon of v. 1: Coloniae Agrippinae, apud Petrum Brachel, sumptibus auctorum. Colophon of v. 6: Coloniae Agrippinae, Antonius Hierat & Abrahamus Hoghenberg. Collaborators and artists whose works these maps were based on include George and Jacob Hoefnagel, Simon Novellanus, Jacob van Deventer, Heinrich Rantzau, etc.

Includes indexes. Descriptive text on verso of plates.

1 atlas (6 v. in 3) : hand col. ill., hand col. maps (some folded) ; 43 cm.

Library of Congress Call Number/Physical Location: G1028 .B7 1612.

References:

Ronald VereTooley, Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers, 1979,N.Y

R.V. Tooley, preface to the reproduction edition of Civitates Orbis Terrarum, World Publishing, 1966

Koeman B&H 1-6; van der Krogt 41:1.1 (1640). This is van der Krogt's XVIII edition, c. 1640, the last edition of six volumes. Van der Krogt dates the individual volumes as 1 (c. 1640, 11th ed.), 2 (c. 1640, 9th ed.), 3 (c. 1623, 7th ed.), 4 (c. 1635, 7th ed.), 5 (c. 1640, 5th ed.), 6 (c. 1635, 3rd ed.). All six volumes are printed by Peter von Brachel between 1823 and 1640, with the texts reset by him and the plates used generally from first or second editions. We date the volumes, texts and plates separately, using Van der Krogt's listings. There are 546 plans/views of cities on 363 plates. The title for the series of six volumes is taken from the first volume which is general practice. The other five volumes are titled individually. The original publication dates are vol I, 1572; vol II, 1575; vol III, 1581; vol IV, c.1588; vol V, c.1598; vol VI, 1617.

 
0. Book Display
1. Front Cover
10. Sant Juan Del Foratche Et Jerenna 1565
11. Archidona La Penna De Los Enamorados Penna Et Archidona 1565
12. Palacios Alcanerilla Et Cabecas 1565
13. Hardales Cartama 1564
14. Bornnes et Zahara
15. Granata 1565
16. Alhambre 1564 Insets Porta Castri Granatensis Semper Clausa Masmoros et Algibe
17. Toletvn 1566
18. La Sierra De Sant Adrian En Biscaia 1567
19. Saintes 1560
2. Vrbivm Praecipvarvm Mundi Theatrvm Qvintvm
20. Pictavia Vulgo Poictiers 1561 La Poictiers et Prospectus Montis Henrici
21. Lvgdvnvm Vulgo Lion Vienna Vulgo Vienne De France
22. Tvrones Vulgo Tours Adegavvm Vulgo Angiers 1561
23. Cambray 1596
24. Caletum Vulgo Cales 1597
25. Lvcenbvrgvm Inset Illtrissimi Perri Erenst Masfeldie
26. Chorographica Descriptio Civitatis Cocheimensis 1575
27. Celimham Berncastel Over Manderscheidt Nider Mandersheidt
28. Chorographica Descriptio Civitatis Sarburgensis
29. Antverpia
3. Palativm Regivm In Angliae Regno Noncivtz Hoc Est Nvsqvam Simile Dictvm 1582
30. Flissinga
31. Herderwyct Or Herderwct
32. Civitatis Episcopalis Othenarvm Sive Otthoniae 1593
33. Ekelenforda
34. Colding Schloss Vnd Stat
35. Elsenor et Ripen
36. Oitinense Oppidulum et Arx Delineatio Ciuitatis Tonderensis
37. Toninga Eiderstadiae et Hvsvm
38. Holsatiae Plona 1593
39. Indumenta Germania Vrbs
4. Olissippo Quae Nunc Lisboa
40. Heide 1596 et Meldorpie
41. Visbia Gothorvm
42. Staden
43. Brema
44. Lvneborch
45. Ratzenbvrgk 1588
46. Bardewick 1588
47. Bardvm Pomeraniae
48. Wiismaria
49. Rostochivm Vrbs Vandalica Anseatic et Megapolitana
5. Noua Bracarae Auguste Descriptio 1594
50. Hall In Sachsen et Hildsheim
51. Praga Regni Bohemiae Metropolis
52. Die Stat Swybvschin In Nider Schlesien
53. Ratisbona 1594
54. Linsvm Avstriae Vulgo Lintz 1594
55. Gmvnden 1594
56. Iaverinvm Vulgo Rab 1594
57. Comorra
58. Owar Vizzegrad 1595
59. Strigonivm Gran 1595
6. Conimbriae In Lusitania
60. Oenipontis Prospectus
61. Prospectivs Amoe Nissimvs Vallis Oeniponticae Vnacvm Antro
62. Avgvsti Apvd Venetos Templi et Palatii Senatorii Apvd Venetos Conflagratio
63. Caprarola Arx et Horti Farenesiani
64. Fvundi Or Fondi 1578
65. Aqvapendente et Tarvisi
66. Nocerra et Castel Novo 1577
67. Elegantissimus Ad Mare Tyrrhenum Ex Monte Pausilipo Neapolis
68. Calatia Vulgo Caiazo 1597
69. Gallipolis
7. Gades Ab Occidvis Insvlae Partibvs 1564 Harbor Of Cadiz Inset
70. Palma
71. Catana
72. Back Cover
8. Cadiz Almodraua De Cadiz
9. Sevilla 1593

Publisher: [Coloniae Agrippinae : apud Petrum à Brachel, sumptibus auctorum, 1575-1618]

Language(s):

Latin

ISBN-10: N/A

Date Added: 2019-08-06

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Maps

Map Name
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Palativm Regivm In Angliae Regno Noncivtz Hoc Est Nvsqvam Simile Dictvm 1582 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Olissippo Quae Nunc Lisboa (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Noua Bracarae Auguste Descriptio 1594 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Conimbriae In Lusitania (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Gades Ab Occidvis Insvlae Partibvs 1564 Harbor Of Cadiz Inset (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Cadiz Almodraua De Cadiz (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Sevilla 1593 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Sant Juan Del Foratche Et Jerenna 1565 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Archidona La Penna De Los Enamorados Penna Et Archidona 1565 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Palacios Alcanerilla Et Cabecas 1565 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Hardales Cartama 1564 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Bornnes et Zahara (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Granata 1565 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Alhambre 1564 Insets Porta Castri Granatensis Semper Clausa Masmoros et Algibe (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Toletvn 1566 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - La Sierra De Sant Adrian En Biscaia 1567 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Saintes 1560 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Pictavia Vulgo Poictiers 1561 La Poictiers et Prospectus Montis Henrici (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Lvgdvnvm Vulgo Lion Vienna Vulgo Vienne De France (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Tvrones Vulgo Tours Adegavvm Vulgo Angiers 1561 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Cambray 1596 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Caletum Vulgo Cales 1597 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Lvcenbvrgvm Inset Illtrissimi Perri Erenst Masfeldie (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Chorographica Descriptio Civitatis Cocheimensis 1575 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Celimham Berncastel Over Manderscheidt Nider Mandersheidt (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Chorographica Descriptio Civitatis Sarburgensis (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Antverpia (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Flissinga (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Herderwyct Or Herderwct (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Civitatis Episcopalis Othenarvm Sive Otthoniae 1593 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Ekelenforda (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Colding Schloss Vnd Stat (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Elsenor et Ripen (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Oitinense Oppidulum et Arx Delineatio Ciuitatis Tonderensis (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Toninga Eiderstadiae et Hvsvm (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Holsatiae Plona 1593 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Indumenta Germania Vrbs (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Heide 1596 et Meldorpie (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Visbia Gothorvm (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Staden (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Brema (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Lvneborch (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Ratzenbvrgk 1588 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Bardewick 1588 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Bardvm Pomeraniae (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Wiismaria (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Rostochivm Vrbs Vandalica Anseatic et Megapolitana (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Hall In Sachsen et Hildsheim (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Praga Regni Bohemiae Metropolis (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Die Stat Swybvschin In Nider Schlesien (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Ratisbona 1594 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Linsvm Avstriae Vulgo Lintz 1594 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Gmvnden 1594 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Iaverinvm Vulgo Rab 1594 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Comorra (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Owar Vizzegrad 1595 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Strigonivm Gran 1595 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Oenipontis Prospectus (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Prospectivs Amoe Nissimvs Vallis Oeniponticae Vnacvm Antro (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Avgvsti Apvd Venetos Templi et Palatii Senatorii Apvd Venetos Conflagratio (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Caprarola Arx et Horti Farenesiani (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Fvundi Or Fondi 1578 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Aqvapendente et Tarvisi (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Nocerra et Castel Novo 1577 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Elegantissimus Ad Mare Tyrrhenum Ex Monte Pausilipo Neapolis (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Calatia Vulgo Caiazo 1597 (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Gallipolis (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Palma (1596)
Civitates Orbis Terrarum Vol. 5 - Catana (1596)

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