A. La France Antarctique Autrement le Rio Ianeiro Tiree des Voyages que Villegagnon, et Jean de Leri ont faits au Bresil les Annees 1557 et 1558, by Pierre Duval, from Cartes pour les Itineraires et Voyages Modernes, published 1665, hand color (9.1 x 6.3"). In 1555, in an effort to find refuge against persecution for the Huguenots, French vice-admiral Nicolas Durand de Villegaignon led 600 soldiers and colonists to Guanabara Bay. There they founded Fort Coligny on the small island of Serigipe (here called I. De Villegagnon). The French continued to colonize La France Antarctique for 12 years, both on several islands in Guanabara Bay as well as on the mainland, in the area that later became Rio de Janeiro. The Portuguese, who had made a more concerted effort to colonize South America, began to feel threatened by the French colony, and ordered it destroyed. The French largely gave up their efforts to colonize South America, focusing instead on their influence in North America and the Caribbean. Reference: Pastoureau, DUVAL VI A #5. Condition: A crisp impression with contemporary outline color on a sheet with a "C [heart] S" watermark, a couple of tiny spots, and light toning primarily confined to blank margins. (A)

B. Rio Janeiro, by Constantin de Renneville, from Recueil des Voyages qui ont Servi a l'Etablissement et aux Progres de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales, circa 1703, black & white (8.5 x 5.4"). A lovely bird's-eye view of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay, showing the town and a church, with a compass rose orienting north to the right. Condition: Issued folding with a hint of toning, offsetting, and some minor extraneous creasing along the left-hand fold. (B+)

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Condition:

See description above.