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BRAUN, George - HOGENBERG, Frans : Civitas Exoniae (vulgo Excester) Urbs Primaria in Comitatu Devoniae

310 x 400 mm., early wash colour enhanced with gilt, in good condition.

An example of Braun and Hogenberg’s plan of the city of Exeter in particularly fine EARLY WASH COLOUR ENHANCED WITH GILT, with Latin text to the verso. This is one of the rarest of the English plans in the ‘Civitates Orbis Terrarum’ as it was published in the last volume. It was compiled by George Braun (1541-1622) the Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun produced a total of over 500 city views and maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617. Most of the engraving was the work of Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590), many after drawings by George Hoefnagel. This was first published in the very rare sixth and last volume in 1617 with Latin text. The original survey is the work of John Hooker whose engraved plan of 1587 is one of the earliest provincial town plans in England. Hooker was the First Chamberlain of Exeter who commissioned many regional items from publishers in London. His original plan was the work of his relative, the engraver Remigius Hogenberg and only three examples survive. It was the source for many ensuing plans of the town including the inset by John Speed on his map of the county of Devon. This superb example of Braun & Hogenberg’s version is the largest and most detailed of all the derivatives. Barber (2007) p. 1656 (Hooker ill.); Koeman (1967-70) II B & H 6 no. 1.

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