Braun & Hogenberg's Civitates Orbis Terrarum or "Cities of the World" was published between 1572 and 1617. Within the six volumes, 531 towns and cities were depicted on 363 plates, providing the reader with the pleasures of travel without the attendant discomforts. Braun wrote in the preface to the third book, "What could be more pleasant than, in one's own home far from all danger, to gaze in these books at the universal form of the earth . . . adorned with the splendor of cities and fortresses and, by looking at pictures and reading the texts accompanying them, to acquire knowledge which could scarcely be had but by long and difficult journeys?" Braun and Hogenberg incorporated an astonishing wealth of information into each scene beyond the city layout and important buildings. The plates provide an impression of the economy and prominent occupations, and illustrate local costumes, manners and customs.

This sheet includes bird's-eye views of five port cities in Morocco: Tanger, Safi, Ceuta, Asilah, and Sale. Each view is elegantly engraved with ships in the harbor and a lovely countryside in the background. This is the second state, with "Cum Privilegio" added near the center. Latin text on verso, published in 1657 in Jan Jansson's town atlas.

References: Fussel, p. 123; Van der Krogt (Vol. IV) #4253.

Condition: B+

A nice impression with full contemporary color on a lightly toned sheet with a paper flaw within the Safi image at top left and light dampstains along the edges of the sheet. There are centerfold separations at top and bottom and three short tears in the top margin that have been closed on verso with archival tape.