(After) Basilius Besler Art

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of Frankfort, Germany entitled "Francenbergum, vel ut alij Francoburgum Hassiae Opp" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, from their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne, Germany in 1595. This is an English translation of an excerpt from the original text in the atlas: "Frankenberg or, according to others, Francoburgum, a town in Hesse. Charlemagne vested the town of Frankenberg with many freedoms and privileges, which it still enjoys to this day, and on account of its valiant and victorious soldiers awarded a signet, upon which there formerly appeared a golden castle with a tower, together with the letter F and a golden crown. Frankenberg, seen here from the northeast, lies on a hill above the River Eder. The hillside is covered with fields neatly separated by bushes and fences. Soaring above the town is the massive Liebfrauenkirche, which was modelled on St Elizabeth's church in Marburg. The New Town was founded in 1335 at the foot of the hill (right) and merged with the Old Town as late as 1556. Frankenberg was founded by Conrad of Thuringia in 1233/34 to prevent the archbishops of Mainz from expanding their sphere of influence...

This is a framed 16th century map and city view of Canterbury, England entitled "Cantuarbury" by Braun & Hogenburg, from their famous landmark atlas of city views 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum' (Atlas of the Cities of the World), which was first published in Cologne, Germany in 1572. The map of Canterbury was first published in 1588. It depicts a detailed birdseye view of the completely walled and fortified city of Canterbury, with its cathedral the most prominent feature. The coat of arms of England, Canterbury, and the Archbishop of Canterbury are included. This beautifully hand-colored map is presented in a gold-colored wood frame with a beaded inner trim and a paprika-colored mat that highlights details in the map. The frame measures 18.75" high by 22.25" wide by 0.875" deep. There is a central vertical fold, as issued. The map is in excellent condition. Braun and Hogenberg's 'The Civitates Orbis Terrarum' was the second atlas of maps ever published and the first atlas of cities and towns of the world. It is one of the most important books published in the 16th century. Most of the maps in the atlas were engraved by Franz Hogenberg and the text, with its descriptions of the history and additional factual information of the cities, was written by a team of writers and edited by Georg Braun. The work contained 546 bird-eye views and map views of cities and towns from all over the world. It gave graphic representation of the main features of the illustrated cities and towns, including the buildings and streets. Although the ordinary buildings are stylized, the principal buildings are reproduced from actual drawings created on location. The principal landmarks and streets can still be recognized today. In addition, the maps often include the heraldic arms of the city, the nature of the surrounding countryside, the important rivers, streams and harbors, even depicting stone bridges, wooden pontoons, flat-bottomed ferries, ships and working boats, wharves and jetties, as well as land-based activities, including horsemen, pedestrians, wagons, coaches, and palanquins. Small vignettes are often included which illustrate the trade, occupations and habits of the local inhabitants, such as agriculture, paper-making and textiles, as well as local forms of punishment, such as gibbets, wheels, floggings etc. Large figures dressed in their local costume are often presented out of proportion in the foreground. The aim of the authors was to give as much information as possible in a pleasing visual form. They succeeded in creating maps that were both informative and decorative works of art. The atlas is a wonderful glimpse of life in medieval Europe. Georg Braun (1541-1622) was German Catholic...

Three woodcut engravings produced in 1885 to commemorate the sailing yacht trials competition to determine the team to represent the United States in the America's Cup races off the New Jersey coast in that same year. These three beautiful woodcut engravings are part of a group of six equally attractive prints, all framed identically in gold scrolled frames with pleasing light grey French mats each with a medium grey band. Each frame measures 16.13" x 17.25" x 0.5". See Item Reference #LU117325094852 to view the other three images. These may be purchased individually for $1,075/each, as a set of three for $2,875/3 or as a set of six for $5,575/6. Three American racing yachts, the Puritan, the Priscilla and the Bedouin, participating in the 1885 America’s Cup trials off the coast of New Jersey are shown in their qualifying races. The Puritan, owned by several members of the Eastern Yacht Club...

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of Tournai, Belgium, entitled "Tornacum" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, in volume IV of their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne or Augsberg, Germany in 1575. The map provides a bird's-eye view of the walled city of Tournai, the second oldest city in Belgium. It lies approximately one hour by car southwest of Brussels or from Ghent. The names of thirty of its streets, prominent buildings, churches and squares are listed in a key within a strap-work cartouche in the lower left. These locations are numbered in the key corresponding to their locations on the map. This colorful map of Tournai (Tornacum or Tournay as it was called in the 16th century) includes the title in Latin in a cartouche in the upper center. Three crests are present across the upper map. A man and two woman are standing on a hill in the foreground in the lower right dressed in the style of 16th century upper class residents of the town. This is an English translation of an excerpt of Braun's description of Tornai: “Tornacum or Turnacum is a city in Gallia Belgica, situated on the Schelde in the territory of the Nervii, called Tournai by its French inhabitants, but Dorneck by the Germans. Tournai has always been a large and powerful city, with an abundance of goods and commercial activities and wonderfully resourceful craftsmen, who invent new articles every day, and although some of these go out of use they constantly conceive of other new things, both useful and delightful, so that they have at all times something that provides work and a means of livelihood for the poor." ReferencesVan der Krogt 4, 4435, State 1; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg...

"The Elevation of a New Design of my Own Invention in the Style of Inigo Jones, Is most humbly Inscribed to his Grace the Duke of Argyle & Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter", plate 20 from Colen Campbell's first edition of "Vitruvius Britannicus...

This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of View of View of Meissen, Germany entitled "Misena Hermun Duvorum Urbs" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, from their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne, Germany in 1575. The map depicts a side view and bird's-eye view, looking across the Elbe River (labelled Albis Fluvius on the map; White River in Latin) from the northeast. In the foreground are three women in conversation on a hill above the city, along with a man and a woman in conversation by a road, all dressed in contemporary costumes of the upper class. A coat-of-arms is present in each upper corner. A great castle sits atop a hill in the background on the left. Meissen grew up around Albrechtsburg castle, built by Emperor Henry I around AD 929, and was granted a municipal charter at the end of the 12th century. From 1471 onwards, the castle complex was reconstructed as the residence of the Saxon electors on the northeast corner of the Domberg (Cathedral Hill). Meissen cathedral is a Gothic hall church begun c. 1270; in 1413 a bolt of lightning destroyed its west towers, which were replaced only in the 20th century. Meissen lies to the northwest of Dresden, Germany in Saxony. Meissen is famous for its Meissen porcelain and the Albrechtsburg castle The following is an English translation of an excerpt from Braun's description of the city:  "This city is surrounded by very many rivers, to the east flows the Elbe, to the south the Triebisch, to the west are the mountains, to the north the Meisse, after which the city is said to be named. The city is well-situated in its surroundings, the navigable rivers, the mountains and the healthy air. Around the city there is a good land to grow grain, fertile vineyards on the hillsides and without doubt the mountains are not without ore, for one mile away, up the Elbe, is Scharfenberg, where silver and lead ore are mined.." 
  References: Van der Krogt 4, 2684; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg...

This large hand-colored map entitled "Estats de L'Empire des Turqs en Europe, ou sont les Beglerbeglicz our Gouvernements" was originally created by Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville and this version was published by Hubert Jaillot in "Atlas Nouveau" in Paris in 1692. It depicts the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe, predominantly Eastern Europe. Highlights include, the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Black Sea, the Dalmation Coast including present day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, North Macedonia, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Albania, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Transylvania, Moldova and southern portions of France, Switzerland, Germany, and Poland.. The map consists of two sheets joined as one along a vertical joint. The map has original hand-coloring. It is printed on antique hand-made laid, chain-linked paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 24.88" high and 38" wide. There is a central vertical joint, as issued. The map is in very good condition. Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600-1667) was one of the greatest French cartographather of French cartography. Sanson opened his first printing business in Paris in 1638. The king recognized his skill and knowledge and made him the official geographer to the court. He eventually served two kings in this capacity. Sanson was succeeded by his sons and son...

This 18th century hand-colored copperplate celestial map by Johann Doppelmayr entitled "Astronomia Comparativa in qua Planetarum Primaria Phaenomena" (Co...

This large original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of southern Greece and the Pelopponese Peninsula entitled "La Moree Et Les Isles De Zante, Cefalonie, Ste. Marie, Cerigo & C...

This large hand-colored map entitled "Le Royaume De Hongrie et les Estats qui en ont este sujets et qui font presentement La Partie Septentrionale de la Turquie en Europe" was origin...

A 17th century copperplate hand-colored map entitled "The Second Table of Ireland, Udrone" by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius, published in Amsterdam in 1635 in 'Cosmographicall ...

Three woodcut engravings produced in 1885 to commemorate the sailing yacht trials competition to determine the team to represent the United States in the America's Cup races off the New Jersey coast in that same year. These three beautiful woodcut engravings are part of a group of six equally attractive prints, all framed identically in gold scrolled wood frames with pleasing light grey French mats, each with a medium grey band. Each frame measures 16.13" x 17.25" x 0.5". See Item Reference #LU117325094852 to view the other three prints in this series. These prints may be purchased individually for $1,075/each, as a set of three for $2,875/3 or as a set of six for $5,575/6. Three American racing yachts, the Puritan, the Priscilla and the Bedouin, participating in the 1885 America’s Cup trials off the coast of New Jersey are shown in their qualifying races. The Puritan, owned by several members of the Eastern Yacht Club...