This fine early birds-eye view of Canterbury is from the ‘Civitates Orbis Terrarum’ which was compiled by George Braun (1541-1622) the Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun produced a total of over 500 city views and maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617 of which just 10 were English. Most of the engraving was the work of Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590), many after drawings by George Hoefnagel although this one is unidentified. It was first published in the fourth volume first issued in 1588 in Latin. This example was published by Jan Jansson in 1657, Jansson had acquired all of the Braun and Hogenberg plates around 1653 and issued them in the multi volume ‘Theatrum Urbium’. For this issue the original title cartouche are removed along with the four figures which were in the foreground, it is here where the new title is placed. Fordham ‘Town Plans of the British Isles’, in ‘Map Collectors’ Circle’ no. 22 p. 5; Koeman II B & H 4 no. 1 & Ja 15 no. 3.