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This is a finely colored example of Braun & Hogenberg's first view of Amsterdam, from Part I of their Civitates Orbis Terrarum, first published in Cologne in 1572.
Braun & Hogenberg's view is based upon a plan of Amsterdam by Cornelis Antoniszoon (1544), showing Amsterdam with its medieval walls and formal defensive systems. The view illustrates the unique Dutch form of urban planning. Here, the Amstel River is dammed near its mouth and its flow controlled by channels to the sea. An outer harbor is created from the downstream portion and an inner harbor is made from the upstream portion. The dam, located at the center, also provided the central plaza for public buildings. Numerous ships and fishing boats fill the harbors, attesting to the increased trade and commerce that Amsterdam was beginning to experience when this plan was published.
Cornelis Anthoniszoon (1505 to 1553) was a grandchild of Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen, who probably taught him to paint, and a cousin of Dirck Jacobsz. In 1538, Anthoinszoon painted the first complete map of Amsterdam as a commission from the city fathers to present as a gift to Charles V. Anthoniszoon. He is best known for his woodcuts, especially his view of Amsterdam, from 1544. This was printed in 12 blocks of wood and was re-issued until well into the 17th century.
The cartouche text translates as follows:
Amsterdam is a well-known city in Lower Germany that has arisen in recent times to accommodate merchants and is inhabited by people engaged in trade. It is almost impossible to think of a commercial activity that is not practiced here. Hence profit-seeking businessmen are drawn to this city from the most far-away lands and transship various goods, first and foremost grain, to Brabant and other parts of the world. Vast riches result from trade of this kind.
Braun's commentary on the verso translates as follows:
Holland is the a very fertile part of Lower Germany. It is crossed by many waterways, which are full of fish, she is also abundant in good quality pastures, and let us not deny that there is nowhere else in the world which, in so little space contains so many cities... Amongst these, Amsterdam is the noblest ... About twice a year many ships arrive here from all over Europe, some 200 or 300 principally from Flanders and also from elsewhere in the Low Countries, France, England, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the other countries of the North.
Georg Braun (1541-1622) was born and died in Cologne. His primary vocation was as Catholic cleric; he spent thirty-seven years as canon and dean at the church St. Maria ad Gradus, in Cologne. Braun was the chief editor of the Civitates orbis terrarum, the greatest book of town views ever published. His job entailed hiring artists, acquiring source material for the maps and views, and writing the text. In this role, he was assisted by Abraham Ortelius. Braun lived into his 80s, and he was the only member of the original team to witness the publication of the sixth volume in 1617.
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