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In Latin. Two pages, 318 x 215mm, integral address leaf (tipped onto a guard; paper discreetly strengthened at outer margin on f.1v, and more extensively on the address leaf). Provenance: left by Ortelius's nephew, Jacob Cole, to the Dutch Church in London; Sotheby's sale of 'The highly important correspondence of Abraham Ortelius', 14 February 1955, lot 41; Sotheby's, 18 June 1968 (which again included the whole Ortelius correspondence), lot 350.
Braun's astonishment that Ortelius considers him an enemy; and on the treatment of the Civitates orbis terrarum alongside Ortelius's Theatrum by the Italian book trade. Braun has received through 'Hogenbergia n[ostr]a' (perhaps the widow or daughter of his former partner Frans Hogenberg) the gift from Ortelius of a map of Catania: he is however astonished at the inscription, which reads 'To Georg Braun, although he is very much an enemy to me, I am a friend to him, even if against his will'. Braun professes his stupefaction at this, and stresses his long-standing admiration and friendship towards Ortelius. He is however very grateful for the Catania plan: 'For it will both adorn the fifth [part of] our Theatrum [i.e. the Civitates orbis terrarum], and serve the purposes of the Italians, who so neatly combine the Theatrum orbis with the towns that they seem to be a single and continuous work, and placing the towns alongside the individual regions, they make up two volumes. Thus after Sicily, Trepani and Palermo, Catania will follow in due order. / Behold, what the world and its endeavours have joined together, what zeal of imperfection shall put asunder?' Braun goes on to discuss the presentation of Ortelius's own city of Antwerp in the Civitates: 'You are not unaware that your city of Antwerp appears to better advantage on two sheets. I should like to add an accurate description, worthy of such a great town'; he concludes by explaining the form of his planned description, asking for a catalogue of Ortelius's recent publications, and emphasising again his undying friendship.
Georg Braun (1541-1622) was born and died in Cologne. His primary vocation was as Catholic cleric; he spent thirty-seven years as canon and dean at the church St. Maria ad Gradus, in Cologne. Braun was the chief editor of the Civitates orbis terrarum, the greatest book of town views ever published. His job entailed hiring artists, acquiring source material for the maps and views, and writing the text. In this role, he was assisted by Abraham Ortelius. Braun lived into his 80s, and he was the only member of the original team to witness the publication of the sixth volume in 1617.
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