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 is a complete, disbound example of Part V of De Bry's Petits Voyages consisting of 66 pages of German text, title page and all 20 plates. This part contains the expeditions of the Dutch to the East Indies, including stops in Mauritius, Madera, the Moluccas, Amboy, Banda, Bantan, etc. Besides depictions of those places, they include various games and horsemanship, sailing ships, native canoes, Moluccan swordplay, elephants, native menageries, etc. The plates each have printed text at the bottom with blank versos. A superb set of plates that could easily be rebound if desired. Plates XXII through XX are from a different example of the 1601 German edition with slightly smaller sheets. The plates are:

1. A drawing of the island of Mauritius (Mauritius)
2. The Dutch of the Isle of Mauritius (Mauritius)
3. Celebrating the arrival of the Dutch in Turban (Java)
4. What happened on the island of Madura
5. The island of Ambon and its surroundings
6. A picture of the island of Banda
7. How the people of Nera received the Dutch
8. How the people of Banda hold important meetings
9. A shop in Banda where the Dutch sold their wares
10. A description of the people of Banda
11. The ball games played in Banda
12. How the Dutch were met by the king of Ternate (Halmahera - North Moluccas)
13. A description of the town of Gamme Lamme and its surroundings (Halmahera - North Moluccas)
14. The procession of the king of Ternate (Halmahera - North Moluccas)
15. Fencers and the women of Molucca
16. The galleons of Banda and Ternate (Moluccas)
17. How the king of Turban received the Dutch (Moluccas)
18. The king shows the Dutch the exterior of his palace (Moluccas)
19. Different chambers in the king's court (Moluccas)
20. The wives and concubines of the king (Moluccas)

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Condition: A

Most of the plates are in excellent condition with very minor toning or soiling. Five of the plates at the end have light toning and soiling. The last four plates have a small wormhole in the image and lack a right margin as they were printed on smaller sheets. The title page has light soiling. The text is clean and bright with minor occasional soiling.