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.

This finely engraved view depicts the heavily armed Fort of the Tres Reis Magos along the Potengi River in today's Natal. In the foreground, Dutch soldiers oversee natives unloading goods from small row boats.

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Condition: A

Excellent impression and color with a jester watermark and light printer's ink residue.