Scarce early plan of Florence, published in Paris by De Belleforest.

In 1544, the scholar and geographer Sebastian Munster published his Cosmographia, one of the most important an influential works of its type in the16th century In 1575, the Paris publisher Francois de Belleforest issued a French edition of the work which included this spectacular woodcut view of Florence.

Rather than reproducing Munster's view, Belleforest compiled and engraved this much larger scale, more detailed and embellished version, based on his own knowledge of the city, its layout and monuments.

One of the best obtainable 16th-century plans of Florence.