Braun (Georg) & Hogenberg (Frans)

Londinum Feracissimi Angliae Regni Metropolis, hand-coloured engraving, from the Civitates orbis terrarum, intermediate state, with ‘West Mester’ changed to ‘West Muster’ but without the addition of the Royal Exchange or the words ‘cum privilegio’ lower right, some spotting, laid down onto board, staining in margins and along central fold, central fold weakening, [Howgego 2 (1-2)], overall 385 x 520mm, Cologne, [1572-74].

***The earliest surviving printed plan of London, which was copied from a 15-or-20-sheet printed map probably commissioned by the merchants of the Hanseatic League. Their headquarters in London (the Steelyard) is described in the lower right corner. The original must have drawn on earlier information, as several details would have changed by the time of publication, such as the spire of St Paul's (destroyed in 1561).