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 depicts John Smith escaping French pirates during a storm in a small rowboat. He was captured by a French vessel on his second attempt to return to New England in 1615. It first appeared in Part X of de Bry's Grands Voyages in 1618, and was republished in Johann Ludwig Gottfried's Historia Antipodum, an abridgement of De Bry's voyages to America that incorporated much new material. Matthaus Merian, de Bry's son-in-law and publisher for Historia Antipodum, was granted access to de Bry's copper-engraved plates. On a sheet of German text measuring 9.0 x 14.4".

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Condition: A

A sharp impression with light toning that is not visible in engraved image and a few tiny edge tears along sheet edges.