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 engraving shows how the Native Americans would collect gold, silver, and copper from the rivers that flowed from the Apalatcy (Appalachian) mountains. The natives would make channels in the rivers that would fill with sand, and then collect the sand in baskets using hollow reeds, and transport the baskets down the May river. On a sheet of German text measuring 8.9 x 13.1".

References:

Condition: B+

A nice impression on a sheet with a fleur-de-lis watermark and a faint dampstain in the bottom blank margin. The sheet has been trimmed at right by the bookbinder, excising a small portion of the engraved image.