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Bardewick - Braun & Hogenberg, 1596-1640.



Antique map - Bird's-eye view of Bardowick by Braun and Hogenberg, engraved after a drawing by Daniel Freese, 1588.

TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT: The picture of the very ancient Saxon town of Bardowick was generously procured by Heinrich Rantzau, lord of the Lower Elbe, to further embellish this fifth volume. In the year 1595.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Bardowick was formerly an ancient town in Saxony and was inhabited, as the name suggests, by the Bards or Lombards (who were powerful people, but were nevertheless skilful, robust and valiant and who ruled on the right bank of the Elbe from Magdeburg down to Stade). Towards midnight or the north it lies about two miles from Lüneburg and is built on the River Lunow, which is also called Ilmenau."

Bardowick is presented in a bird's-eye view from the northwest, offering a good view of the collegiate church of SS Peter and Paul with its twin-towered west façade (bottom left). One of the oldest towns in Lower Saxony, Bardowick is first documented in AD 795, although a village by the name of Bardorum is already mentioned in Roman sources from an even earlier date. Thanks to its favourable location at the crossroads of two trade routes, Bardowick rapidly became a major centre of commerce. At that time, moreover, the Ilmenau was navigable only between Bardowick and the Elbe, the latter providing access to the sea. This meant that salt produced in Lüneburg had to be shipped via Bardowick. In 972 Bardowick was granted civic, coignage and toll rights, leading to economic prosperity. The town lost its role as a commercial hub in the mid-12th century, however, as Lübeck rose in importance and the Ilmenau became navigable as far as Lüneburg. (Taschen)

Copper engraving
Size: 38.5 x 51.5cm (15 x 20 inches)
Verso text: Latin
Condition: Old coloured.
Condition Rating: A
References: Van der Krogt 4, State 1; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.407.

From: Civitates Orbis Terrarum, ... Part 5. Köln, 1596-1640.

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Item number: 22096
Price: 350 Euro

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