A large horizontal woodcut headpiece features intricate foliage, scrolls, and a central grotesque mask, a common decorative element in Renaissance and Baroque book design.

To the Noble, Honorable,

Highly and Well-Learned, Prudent, and Most Wise Lords, the Burgomasters original: "Bürgermeistern"; the chief magistrates or mayors of the city and Council of the Imperial Free City of Nuremberg, my especially highly-favored Lords.

This engraving depicts the three heraldic shields of the city of Nuremberg: at the top center is the single-headed Imperial Eagle, signifying the city's direct allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor. At the bottom left is the "Virgin Eagle" (Jungfraunadler), featuring a crowned female head on an eagle's body. At the bottom right is the city’s split shield, featuring a half-eagle and diagonal red and silver stripes. The group is enclosed within a circular laurel wreath tied with ribbons, symbolizing honor and victory.

Nuremberg (Nürnberg) Burgomasters (Bürgermeister) Council (Rath) Imperial Free City (Reichsstatt — a city that governed itself and answered only to the Emperor) Balthasar Schwan (the engraver) Coat of Arms (Wappen)