Rare Edition of Braun & Hogenberg's Damascus

"Damascus Urbs Nobilissima ad Libanu Montem, Syriae Metropols.", Jansson, Jan

Set against a background of mountains, this handsome bird's-eye plan of the ancient city shows its defensive walls with the Umayyaden mosques at center. The fine buildings, mosques, ruins and gardens are beautifully presented and Arab figures, camels and palm trees are shown in the foreground. At bottom left is the memorial church built where Jesus appeared to Paul as he persecuted the Christians. French text on verso.

This view was copied from Braun & Hogenberg's view of the city from their Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Jansson acquired the plates in 1653 and published his own atlases of town plans beginning in 1657. Some of the plates were reworked, and Jansson added 173 completely new plates to his work, including this one. As this view was only published in one edition, it is quite rare.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T.JAN-16a.

Condition: A

A superb impression on a clean, bright sheet with professional repairs to a hole in the bottom blank margin, a tear that enters 1" into image at bottom center, and another 1/2" tear in the image at top right.