Antique map of Denmark by Braun and Hogenberg, after Marcus Jordan 1599
The oldest preserved map of Denmark of Danish origin. Drawn by Marcus Jordan at the request of Duke Heinrich Rantzau, viceroy of Schleswig-Holstein.
TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT TOP RIGHT: Heinrich Rantzau, privy counsellor to King Frederick II of Denmark, governor of the two Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and of Dithmarschen, and singular protector of scholars, herewith adorned his country and our work.
CARTOUCHE BOTTOM RIGHT: Denmark, or Cimbria, or Kingdom of Denmark, divided into its many parts by sounds and inlets, is bordered in the east by Sweden, in the south by Saxony and Westphalia, in the west by the North Sea (German Sea), in the north by Norway.
On the border with Sweden it has the provinces Scania, Halland and Blekinge. This area is pleasant, fertile and well populated. This is where Helsingborg is located, from which a narrow sound leads to the Island of Zealand, on which lie the famous toll station near the fortress of Kronborg, and the royal residence of Hafnia, or Copenhagen. To the south of Zealand are Laland, Falster and some smaller islands and, further to the west, Langeland. And the Fyn, itself a separate Danish island, but smaller than Zealand; it is surrounded by 37 smaller islands. From Fyn a comfortable sea crossing leads to Schleswig, which is joined to the Cimbrian Peninsula, northern Jutland. From there Wenslia, a peninsula, stretches in a wedge shape towards Norway as far as the town of Skagen, the outermost tip of Cimbria. Cimbria is accessible from Saxony via Holstein, with Wagrien, Storman and Dithmarschen. These are duchies that are happily subject to the Danish King. They are under the administration of the gracious, noble Count H. Rantzau, renowned in the fine arts and the art of warfare. 1585.
COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Denmark, the continent's outermost territory in the north, consists of distinct areas that are connected and joined up. The country is dotted with many bodies of water and varies according to the shapes of the straits. Its most elegant territories are the Duchy of Holstein, Dithmarschen, Schleswig, Scania, Halland, Blekinge and Jutland. There are also many wonderful islands. Scania is superior is size and wealth to the other provinces of the kingdom. [...] It is the most beautiful territory in Denmark, has brave men, is rich in grain, brimming with trade goods, full of churches, noble palaces, administrative buildings, manor houses and monasteries. The capital is Lund and it is three miles from Malmö."
This map of Denmark is unique in the Civitates. It is the only real geographical map in a work that is expressly intended as a city atlas. The editors offer it as an overview of the cities that are presented subsequently. The map shows that present-day southern Sweden was originally Danish; it passed to Sweden only in 1658. The engraving pays homage to Count Heinrich von Rantzau, the Danish governor in Schleswig-Holstein. This is clear from his coat of arms flanked by Athena and Ares in the lower right-hand corner in honour of the wise politician and strategist. This influential personality had a friendly relationship with Georg Braun and provided him with a large number of documents with views of the northern cities. Rantzau took this opportunity to erect a memorial to himself and his family. (Taschen)
Danorum Marca, vel Cimbricum, aut Daniae Regnum ...
Item Number: 15698 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Northern Europe
Antique map of Denmark by Braun and Hogenberg, after Marcus Jordan.
Title: Danorum Marca, vel Cimbricum, aut Daniae Regnum ...
Date of the first edition: 1588.
Date of this map: 1599.
Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 386 x 464mm (15.2 x 18.27 inches).
Verso: Latin text.
Condition: Excellent, old coloured.
Condition Rating: A.
From: Liber quartus Urbium Praecipuarum totius Mundi. Cologne, Bertram Buchholtz, 1599. (Van der Krogt 4, 41:1.4(1599))
The oldest preserved map of Denmark of Danish origin. Drawn by Marcus Jordan at the request of Duke Heinrich Rantzau, viceroy of Schleswig-Holstein.
TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT TOP RIGHT: Heinrich Rantzau, privy counsellor to King Frederick II of Denmark, governor of the two Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and of Dithmarschen, and singular protector of scholars, herewith adorned his country and our work.
CARTOUCHE BOTTOM RIGHT: Denmark, or Cimbria, or Kingdom of Denmark, divided into its many parts by sounds and inlets, is bordered in the east by Sweden, in the south by Saxony and Westphalia, in the west by the North Sea (German Sea), in the north by Norway.
On the border with Sweden it has the provinces Scania, Halland and Blekinge. This area is pleasant, fertile and well populated. This is where Helsingborg is located, from which a narrow sound leads to the Island of Zealand, on which lie the famous toll station near the fortress of Kronborg, and the royal residence of Hafnia, or Copenhagen. To the south of Zealand are Laland, Falster and some smaller islands and, further to the west, Langeland. And the Fyn, itself a separate Danish island, but smaller than Zealand; it is surrounded by 37 smaller islands. From Fyn a comfortable sea crossing leads to Schleswig, which is joined to the Cimbrian Peninsula, northern Jutland. From there Wenslia, a peninsula, stretches in a wedge shape towards Norway as far as the town of Skagen, the outermost tip of Cimbria. Cimbria is accessible from Saxony via Holstein, with Wagrien, Storman and Dithmarschen. These are duchies that are happily subject to the Danish King. They are under the administration of the gracious, noble Count H. Rantzau, renowned in the fine arts and the art of warfare. 1585.
COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Denmark, the continent's outermost territory in the north, consists of distinct areas that are connected and joined up. The country is dotted with many bodies of water and varies according to the shapes of the straits. Its most elegant territories are the Duchy of Holstein, Dithmarschen, Schleswig, Scania, Halland, Blekinge and Jutland. There are also many wonderful islands. Scania is superior is size and wealth to the other provinces of the kingdom. [...] It is the most beautiful territory in Denmark, has brave men, is rich in grain, brimming with trade goods, full of churches, noble palaces, administrative buildings, manor houses and monasteries. The capital is Lund and it is three miles from Malmö."
This map of Denmark is unique in the Civitates. It is the only real geographical map in a work that is expressly intended as a city atlas. The editors offer it as an overview of the cities that are presented subsequently. The map shows that present-day southern Sweden was originally Danish; it passed to Sweden only in 1658. The engraving pays homage to Count Heinrich von Rantzau, the Danish governor in Schleswig-Holstein. This is clear from his coat of arms flanked by Athena and Ares in the lower right-hand corner in honour of the wise politician and strategist. This influential personality had a friendly relationship with Georg Braun and provided him with a large number of documents with views of the northern cities. Rantzau took this opportunity to erect a memorial to himself and his family. (Taschen)