Acquired From: Leen Helmink
Colouring: Coloured
Condition: Excellent
Confirmed: No
Date Acquired: 4/2/2024
Dealers ID No.: 19389
Description: The Civitates orbis terrarum (Cities of the World) is a six-volume collection of detailed plans and birds-eye views of predominantly European cities. Created by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, the first volume was published in 1572, followed by the second in 1575, the third in 1581, the fourth in 1588, the fifth in 1598, and the final sixth volume in 1617-1618. Apart from the last volume, Braun wrote the prefaces and text for the plans, while Hogenberg engraved most of the plates. After Hogenbergs death in 1590, new plates were engraved by his son, Abraham. The work was reprinted numerous times, without alteration and often without a date. nThis work depicts four birds-eye views of important cities in the Indian Ocean region: Aden, Mombasa, Kilwa (Quiloa), and Sofala (Cefala). n''Aden ''nDepicted at the top of the sheet, Aden appears as a semicircular fortified city nestled within a mountainous island setting. The skyline is punctuated by distinctive red domes, characteristic of Islamic architecture in the region. Beached vessels and coastal shipping activity underscore Adens historical role as a vital trade hub linking India, Ethiopia, and Persia. Though Marco Polo described Aden in the 13th century as a city of 80,000 inhabitants, its fortunes declined following the shift in maritime routes and its capture by the Ottoman admiral Piri Reis in 1548. The cartouche praises the citys fortifications, beauty, and natural harbour, noting the former peninsula is now encircled by waterthanks to human engineering. Today, Aden is a major city in Yemen with a population of over half a million.n''Mombasa''nIn the lower left panel, Mombasa is shown as a compact island settlement with tall towers and red-roofed buildings more European than African in style. The inclusion of palm trees lends a faint sense of geographical accuracy, but the rendering reflects limited first-hand knowledge. Mombasa was first visited by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and conquered by the Portuguese under Francisco de Almeida in 1505. Now Kenyas second-largest city, Mombasa remains an important coastal and commercial centre.n''Kilwa (Quiloa)''nKilwa is presented as a modest island town shaded by palm trees, its architecture evoking Mediterranean influence. Known today as Kilwa Kisiwani and located off the coast of present-day Tanzania, the city was a major trading port on the Swahili Coast. It was taken by the Portuguese in 1505, but their presence was brief, lasting until 1512. Despite this, Kilwa retained regional significance through the 18th century. The present-day archaeological site preserves remnants of its former prosperity.n''Sofala (Cefala)''nDepicted in the lower right, Sofala was once a thriving port at the mouth of the Sofala River in what was then Portuguese East Africa. The Portuguese established a fort there in 1505 and sought to control inland gold routes. The explorer Tomé Lopes even speculated that Sofala might be biblical Ophir, the legendary source of Solomons gold. Today, it survives as a small fishing village in Mozambiques Sofala Province.nLatin text on the verso of the engraving.
Engraver: Hogenberg, Frans (1535-1590)
First published: Civitates orbis terrarum Vol. 1, Cologne: Theodor Graminaeus, 1572
Image Size (cm): 47×33.5
Mapmaker: Braun, Georg (1541-1622) and Hogenberg, Frans (1535-1590)
Notes: Purchased with #423 for 1375
Other states: First 1572
Primary Category: Prints & Related Material
Rarity: R3 Uncommon – dealers can usually obtain a copy
Sheet size (cm): 32.8×47
Technique: Copper Engraving
This state: 1575
Website: Click here
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