Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – View of the Ancient and Glorious City of Speyer – Woodcut (Circa 1570)

Beskrivning

This sheet is an original double-page map and text spread, titled "Der Alten und Herrlichen Statt Spirae Contrafactur" (Representation of the Ancient and Glorious City of Speyer). The dominant feature is a detailed, panoramic bird's-eye city view of Speyer, Germany, located on the River Rhine. The view depicts the walled city, its major religious and municipal buildings, and the surrounding fields and topography. The top corners feature two coats of arms, and a detailed numbered legend beneath the image identifies numerous key landmarks of the city. This topographical map originates from a posthumous edition of Sebastian Münster’s renowned Cosmographia, the pivotal 16th-century compendium of world geography, which was essential in visually documenting the cities of the Holy Roman Empire.

Sebastian Münster was a German cartographer, theologian, and cosmographer whose influential work provided a crucial geographical overview of the world in the Renaissance. His Cosmographia was one of the most successful books of the century, making complex geographical knowledge widely accessible.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster

Dimensions: Approximately 35 × 44 cm

Medium: Woodcut

Date: Circa 1570

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.