The earliest surviving plan of London in its RARE SECOND STATE. It was included in the first volume of Braun and Hogenberg’s ‘Civitates Orbis Terrarum’ first published in 1572. Despite being unsigned it is thought to be the work of Hogenberg. It draws on detail from an earlier date as it depicts St. Paul’s as it was before the fire which destroyed it in 1561. The partially surviving multi-sheet ‘copper-plate’ map appears to be its origin. That map is ascribed to Anthonis van den Wyngaerde and is dated to 1553-59. It displays London from Lambeth to just beyond the Tower and to Spitalfields in the north. The compact city is already beginning to expand beyond the original walls. The rings used as theatres on the south bank can be seen. This is an example of the second state following the alteration to the spelling of ‘West mester’ and before the insertion of the Royal Exchange founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1565 and opened officially by Queen Elizabeth in 1571. Barber (2012) London pp. 32-3; Howgego, J. no. 2; Fordham ‘Town Plans of the British Isles’, in ‘Map Collectors’ Circle’ no. 22 p. 5; Goss, J. (Euro cities) pl. 31; Johannes Keuning ‘The ‘Civitates’ of Braun and Hogenberg’ Imago Mundi 17 pp. 41-4; Koeman B & H 1 no. 1; Van der Krogt 2433.