ALEXANDRIA
 Vetustissimum Aegypti Emporium,
 Amplissima Civitas

Colored bird’s-eye view of the walled city of Alexandria, Egypt 

from
Civitates Orbis Terrarum
by

Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg

Double page engraved map, hand colored, inscriptions in Latin.
Printed on the verso of the map is a description and history of Alexandria, in Latin.
From: Second volume of the Civitates Orbis Terrarum by Braun & Hogenberg , 1575.

Map Dimensions: 18 7/8 x 14 1/8 inches (excluding margins)
Paper Dimensions: 21 1/4x 15 3/4 inches (including margins).


Important Note: The map is temporarily under glass in an old frame and will be shipped in the frame to addresses within the Continental United State. If desired, the buyer may want to have it professionally reframed. The map will be shipped without the frame to all  buyers located outside the Continental United States.


The Civitates Orbis Terrarum (Atlas of Cities of the World) by Hogenberg was the second oldest printed atlas in the history of world cartography, and the first atlas of towns. The atlas contains 546 meticulously engraved prospects, bird's-eye views and maps of major cities across Europe, Africa, Asia, and even the Americas. Published in six volumes between 1572 and 1618, it stands as one of the most comprehensive urban mapping projects of its time.

The publisher, Georg Braun (1541–1622), was a theologian, while Frans Hogenberg (1535–1595), who had previously worked on Ortelius' maps, engraved the first four volumes. The fifth and sixth volumes were engraved by Simon van den Neuwel (also known as Novellanus).
Volume II, from which the Alexandria map was taken, was published in 1575. Alexandria

 Map Description
The view is oriented to the south, with the Mediterranean Sea in the foreground. Within the walls are many ruins, but the center of the city is commanded by the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque and Domus Alexandri Magni , purported to have been the home of Alexander the Great, as the focal point. Plus a multitude of houses, subordinate mosques and bazaar indicating a thriving Muslim city. Also shown are Christian structures: a church to St. Catherine (she of the Wheel), and a note by one ruin informs the reader that 'under this stone was found the body of Saint Mark; it is reported to be in Venice.’ On a promontory to the west, Pompey's pillar is shown and its 'incredible height and breadth' described. Canals are depicted bringing water from the Nile into the city year-round; another source of fresh water is noted in Lake Mariout: it is described as having abundant fresh water and many fish, being half an Italian mile distant from the city. Palm forests are noted as being used for fire, and for the sale of their wood. Overlooking the harbor can be seen the renowned Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - long gone by the time this view was issued. The harbor, and the Mediterranean Sea itself, teems with beautifully engraved sailing ships and rowing galleys.
With vignettes of camels, a column of Pompeii, people in native garb.

CARTOGRAPHERS
Georg Braun (1541 – March 10, 1622) was a German deacon, viewmaker, and geographer based in Cologne. Along with Franz Hogenberg (1535 - 1590), Braun is best known for his publication of the highly influential city atlas Civitates Orbis Terrarum. The six volume work, with some 546 views, was published between 1572 and 1617 and intended a companion to Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum - thus certain obvious stylistic similarities. In compiling the Civitates Braun took on the role of editor while most of the engraving work was completed by Franz Hogenberg. Braun died, as he was born, in Cologne.

Franz Hogenberg (1535 - 1590), often called 'Master Franz,' was a Flemish engraver active in the late 16th century. Hogenberg was born in Mechelen, the son of Nicolas Hogenberg, where he trained under the cartographer H. Terbruggen. He later relocated to Antwerp where he achieved success as an engraver, working with Abraham Ortelius, Hieronymus Cock, and others. In 1568, his name appeared on the list of those banned from the Netherlands by the Duke of Alva, forcing his family to flee to London. There he engraved for Christopher Saxon's Atlas of England and Wales. By 1570 he emigrated to Germany settling in Cologne. In Cologne he married his second wife, Agnes Lomar, with whom he had six children. In 1579 the couple were briefly imprisoned for holding illicit secret religious meetings, but were released in short order. Along with German cleric George Braun (1541 – March 10, 1622), Hogenberg issued the highly influential city atlas Civitates Orbis Terrarum. The six volume work, with some 546 views, was published between 1572 and 1617 and intended a companion to Abraham Ortelius' Thatrum Orbis Terrarum - thus certain obvious stylistic similarities. In compiling the Civitates Hogenberg took on the role of engraver while most of the editing was left to Georg Braun. Hogenberg died in Cologne, Germany, before the Civitates was completed. After his death, Hogenberg's work was continued by his son, Abraham Hogenberg, who, under the direction of Agnes, his mother, took over his father's enterprise at just 20.


CONDITION: Good. Original complete unmounted copper engraved and hand colored double-page map with generous margins. The map is intact with some re-inforcement on verso at the centerfold. There are a few small chips or tiny tears at the edges of the margins; three tiny dark spots in the left margin, and light spotting in the blank left, right and lower margins. The map area is clean, and the fold line, while visible at the margins is barely detectible in the map area.

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