Montanus' work was perhaps the greatest illustrated book on the New World produced in the seventeenth century. It contained over one hundred beautifully engraved plates, views, and maps of North and South America. The plates vividly depict forts, festivals, occupations, Dutch fleets, battles, religious rites, and customs of the native inhabitants. This important work was translated into German by Olivier Dapper, and into English by John Ogilby. Several of the plates were later acquired by Pierre Vander Aa.

Size varies slightly.

A. Christofel Colonus. Crisply engraved portrait of Christopher Columbus, shown using navigational tools. The decorative framework is made up of two flanking sea monsters, while one of his ships sails in the background. Condition: Watermarked paper with a professionally repaired tear that enters 3/4" into image at top, and several small chips and tears in blank margins that have been repaired with old paper. (B+)

B. Americus Vesputius. A handsome portrait of Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian navigator in whose honor America was named. He is shown using navigational instruments with ships in the background. The oval portrait is surrounded in a richly engraved, cartouche-like border with sea monsters and a celestial globe. Condition: A small chip in bottom left corner has been repaired with old paper, not affecting image. (A)

C. Ferdinand Magellanus. A strongly engraved portrait of the first circumnavigator, enclosed in an elaborately engraved cartouche-like frame. Condition: There is an archivally repaired tear that enters 1/2" into image at left and light damp stains in top blank margin. (B+)

D. Athabaliba Ultimus Rex Peruanorum. A detailed portrait of the Inca ruler Atahualpa, who was captured and killed by Francisco Pizarro during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Atahualpa is shown in full war dress with a depiction of Cusco behind him, surrounded by a panther headdress, spears and arrows, and the chains that shackled him during his capture. Condition: There is a tiny tear in bottom left blank margin that has been closed with archival tape. (A)

References:

Condition:

See description above.