"I. Tamaraca", Montanus/Ogilby

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 fine view shows the Dutch Fort Oranje on the island of Itamaraca, off the northeast coast of Brazil. Native people and boats fill the foreground, and a key at bottom identifies the important sites. A ribbon-style title cartouche flies over the fort.

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Condition: B+

A crisp impression on a sheet with wide margins. There is light foxing and a pair of short wormtracks in the title cartouche that have been infilled with archival materials. Along the centerfold, there is minor toning, a printer's crease, and a few tiny archivally repaired separations.