This copper engraving is from a remarkable series of publications, illustrating voyages of discovery and travels of exploration to various parts of the world. The project was begun by Theodore de Bry of Frankfurt, in 1590 and was to continue for another 54 years. They became known collectively as the Grands Voyages (to America and the West Indies) and the Petits Voyages (to the Orient and the East Indies). De Bry died after the first six parts of the Grands Voyages were completed. The project was completed initially by his widow and two sons, Johann Theodore de Bry and Johann Israel de Bry, then by his son-in-law, Matthaus Merian in 1644.

This dramatic engraving presents a skirmish between the French and Spanish in the port of Havana. According to the text, a single French corsair vessel arrived in Havana in 1536, and the pirates aboard threatened to burn the city if they were not paid a ransom of 700 ducats. After paying the ransom, the Spanish regrouped the following day and sent three ships to pursue the pirates. When the Spanish flagship located the ship of French corsairs, it hesitated to attack, waiting for the other two ships to arrive. This was a fatal mistake. The French pirates fired first, and the baffled Spanish fled, sinking their own lifeboat in the process. In the foreground, the demoralized Spanish can be seen toppling their small boat and flailing onto shore. On a full sheet of Latin text measuring 9.6 x 13.6".

References:

Condition: B

A nice impression on a foxed and toned sheet.