Rare Old Birdseye Map of Stockholm by Braun & Hogenberg, 1599: Royal Palace, Churches, Canals, Ships, Hills

Behold the exquisite "Stockholm / Stocholm" map, crafted in 1599 by the illustrious Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg. This bird’s-eye view map offers a captivating glimpse into the urban landscape of Stockholm during the late 16th century. As part of the renowned Civitates Orbis Terrarum atlas, this map captures the essence of Stockholm's intricate network of waterways, bustling with ships and boats, underscoring the city's reliance on water transport. The detailed illustrations of the city's architecture, including the prominent Royal Palace, transport the viewer back to a time when Stockholm was emerging as a significant European capital.

Stockholm, situated at the mouth of Lake Mälaren, is beautifully depicted with its series of islands and peninsulas. The map highlights the city's complex network of canals and bridges, which were vital for trade and transportation. The abundance of water surrounding the city is a testament to its strategic location and economic prowess. The bustling waterways, teeming with vessels, reflect the city's vibrant maritime activities and its importance as a hub of commerce and culture.

The architectural grandeur of Stockholm is meticulously illustrated in this map, with the Royal Palace standing as a focal point. The palace, with its intricate façade, towers, and courtyards, dominates the western part of the city, symbolizing the power and prestige of the Swedish monarchy. Other notable buildings, including churches and public edifices, are depicted in great detail, showcasing the city's rich architectural heritage. This map serves as a visual record of Stockholm's urban development and its architectural marvels during the late Renaissance period.

The surrounding hills and natural landscapes add a picturesque quality to the map, providing a stark contrast to the densely built urban areas. The depiction of green spaces and rolling hills offers a glimpse into the natural beauty that enveloped the city. This harmonious blend of urban and natural elements is a reminder of Stockholm's unique geographical setting and its harmonious coexistence with nature. The map's detailed illustrations of the city's environs provide a comprehensive view of Stockholm's topography and its integration with the surrounding landscape.

As part of the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, the greatest city book of its time, this map of Stockholm is not just a geographical representation but a historical document that offers invaluable insights into the urban life of the late 16th century. The collaborative efforts of over 100 artists and topographers, including the notable Joris Hoefnagel, have resulted in a masterpiece that captures the essence of early modern cities. This map is a testament to the artistic and cartographic excellence of Braun and Hogenberg, making it a prized possession for any connoisseur of historical maps.

Streets and roads on this map

The map does not have clearly labeled streets or roads that can be identified with certainty. Therefore, no streets or roads can be listed.

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Illustrations:
• Detailed depictions of buildings, ships, and natural landscapes.
• Landmarks:
• The Royal Palace
• Prominent churches
• Public buildings
• Lakes and waterways:
• Numerous canals and waterways
• Lake Mälaren
• Other notable features:
• Various ships and boats navigating the waters around the city.
• Surrounding hills and natural landscapes.

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Stockholm / Stocholm
• Creation date: 1599
• Mapmaker or publisher: Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg
• Interesting context about the mapmakers:
  • Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg began creating a comprehensive atlas of world cities in 1572, named Civitates Orbis Terrarum.
  • The atlas was intended as a companion to Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first true atlas.
  • The series contains over 546 views, with contributions from over 100 artists and topographers, notably Joris Hoefnagel.
• Topics and themes shown on the map:
• Urban landscape: Detailed depiction of Stockholm's buildings, streets, and waterways.
• Waterways and transport: Emphasis on Stockholm's network of canals, waterways, and bridges, highlighting the importance of water transport.
• Architecture: Detailed representation of important buildings like the Royal Palace.
• Countries and regions shown on the map: The map focuses on the city of Stockholm, Sweden.
• Design or style of the map:
• Bird’s-eye view: The map provides a pair of bird’s-eye views of Stockholm.
• Pictorial elements: Illustrations of buildings, ships, and natural features.
• Historical significance or context:
• The map provides an invaluable insight into the urban life of Stockholm in the late 16th century.
• It is part of Civitates Orbis Terrarum, which is a crucial source for understanding early modern urban landscapes.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

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, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

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.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.