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From Civitates Orbis Terrarum
Town in Greece

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum is a fascinating 16th century collection of town plans and town views issued in 6 volumes - published by Georg Braun and engraved by Frans Hogenberg.

The Companion to Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

In 1570 Abraham Ortelius had published his famous Theatrum Orbis Terrarum - the first world atlas. The work was commercially a huge success and might have spurred the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. The Civitates Orbis Terrarum was similar in size and design to Ortelius world atlas and was apparently meant as a companion work.

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum consisted of alltogether more than 500 town views and town maps. It was issued in 6 volumes between 1572 and 1618 and showed all major cities in Europe, Africa, Asia and even America. The publisher was Georg Braun, a theologian, who lived from 1541 until 1622. The engraver for the first four volumes was Frans Hogenberg, 1535-1595. He had engraved several maps for Abraham Ortelius before. The fifth and sixth volume was engraved by Simon van den Neuwel (Novellanus).

The plates later came into the possession of the Dutch mapmaker Jan Jansson. He made some modifications and republished the town views in 1657 in Amsterdam. The Civitates Orbis Terrarum was lavishly decorated. It is therefore highly appreciated by collectors.

Years of Publication

• 1572 - Volume I
• 1575 - Volume II
• 1581 - Volume III
• 1588 - Volume IV
• 1598 - Volume V
• 1618 - Volume VI

Literature Sources for this article:

• "Carl Moreland and David Bannister: Antique Maps, Phaidon Press Limited, ISBN 0-7148 2954 4

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