Published in 1572 by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, this is the oldest full, true map of Cairo. If Shakespeare ever visited Cairo, this is what it would've looked like.
This map was first published in Civitates Orbis Terrarum - the Cities of the World - which was a cartographical masterpiece featuring 546 maps. Originally handcoloured almost 450 years ago, this is one of the finest examples of this map that I've ever seen.
This map was published when Cairo was one of the most important economic centres in the Ottoman Empire.
As you can imagine, Egypt looked very different all those years ago, but you can identify the world-famous Great Pyramid of Giza and The Great Sphinx of Giza to the right and the River Nile going through the middle of the map.
Some of the locations on this map include: River Nile, The Great Pyramid of Giza and The Great Sphinx of Giza.
This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 30x40in (76x101.5cm), 37x50in (94x127cm), 45x60in (114x152.5cm) and 52x70in (132x178cm), but it looks best at larger sizes.
I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 90in (229cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.
The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45.5x61cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, another option would be this amazing map of Egypt by John Arrowsmith in 1832.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving or housewarming gift for someone from Cairo or the history of Egypt.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.