Antique Prints, Maps, & Books of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 69486:
Description
This engraving is part of the "Allegory of The Discovery of America" or "Americae Retectio" The design for this plates was by Johannes Stradanus and the original engraver was Adrian Collaert and was first published in 1585. De Bry re-issued the plate with the reversing of the original image for his work. Stradanus was a Flemish artist who worked mostly for the Medici family. The work was titled Americae Retectio and first issued as a leaflet to honor the great 16th century explorers of the Americas and the Pacific.
The original four engravings comprise the allegorical title-page and the successive explorations of Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, and Ferdinand Magellan, each on the deck of their ships and surrounded by mythological gods, seanymphs, mermaids, sea monsters and other wonders. Of particular note are the large bird carrying an elephant in the engraving of Magellan, and the merman and mermaid holding a dismembered body in the engraving of Vespucci.
The engraving offered depicts Magellan in armor on his deck with the flag of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. On one side is Tierra del Fuego and the other a Patagonian giant swallowing an arrow. A monstrous bird is flying overhead with an elephant in its claws.
Description of the work:
This historic engraving is from Johann Ludwig Gottfried’s
Newe Welt und Americanische Historien. Inhaltende Warhafftige und vollkommene Beschreibungen Aller West-Indianischen Landschafften, Insulen, Königreichen und Provintzien, Seecusten etc. This is from the second edition of the handsomely illustrated travel work. The work was published in Frankfurt by Matthaeus Merian in 1655. It was an important work documenting the early exploration, conquest, and colonization of the New World which heavily influenced European perception of America.
Johann Ludwig Gottfried was a German publisher. He inherited Theodor De Bry’s firm, and subsequently issued the work shown here after De Bry’s
Grands Voyages. De Bry had received the paintings and records from both the French and English expeditions to settle colonies in America in the late 16th century. The illustrators from the expeditions were Jacques Le Moynes de Morgues and John White. De Bry transferred these images to copper plates from which Gottfried constructed the present work. He also included illustrations from other European artists based on textual descriptions (thus the images of mermaids or dragons). Merian also added or re-engraved some of the plates that had become too worn. Gottfried handled the editing and translation.
Borba de Moraes noted of the work "It is obvious that the
Newe Welt is an important and magnificent work. It is greatly sought after, expensive and rare." Michiel van Groesen noted in
America Abridged… it could be "Considered the apotheosis of the collection of voyages to the New World.”
Paper Size: ~ 7 3/4" by 12 1/2"
Condition report:
The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be some handling, wear, or chipping to edges. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
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