Set of De Bry's Native Virginians & Picts from Part I of Grands Voyages

"[Grands Voyages, Part I] Admiranda Narratio Fida Tamen, de Commodis et Incolarum Ritibus Virginiae, Nuper Admodum ab Anglis...", Bry, Theodore de

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 fascinating lot includes the title page, text, 20 (of 22) plates on Virginia Natives, and 5 plates of Picts that were included in the Latin edition of Part I of de Bry's Grands Voyages. The included title page is from the first Latin edition (1590), and the text and nearly all of the plates are from the second Latin edition (1608), with the exception of Plates V and VIII, which are from the first Latin edition. This lot does not include the map of Virginia, the frontispiece of Adam and Eve, which was unnumbered but considered to be the first plate, or the colophon. The set of Natives is missing Plate XIII (How They Catch Fish) and Plate XVIII (The Dances at their Great Feasts). Each of the plates is accompanied by Latin text either below the plate or on an opposing page, and all plates have blank versos. The plates depict:

II. The English arrive in Virginia. Condition: Heavy toning. (C+)
III. A Weroans, or Chieftain, of Virginia. Condition: Printer's crease at top left and minor foxing. (A)
IIII. One of the Chief Ladies of Secota. Condition: (A)
V. A Secota Priest. Condition: (A)
VI. A Young Gentlewoman of Secota. Condition: (A)
VII. A Chief of Roanoke. Condition: Trimmed to the edge of the plate at right by the bookbinder. (B+)
VIII. A Noblewoman of Pomeiock. Condition: (A)
IX. An Old Man in Winter Garb. Condition: Repaired tear at top left. (B+)
X. How the Chief Ladies of Dasamonquepeio Carry their Children. Condition: (A)
XI. The Sorcerer. Condition: Light toning with dampstains entering the image at top left and bottom right. (B+)
XII. How They Build Boats in Virginia. Condition: Has about 1/8" of image trimmed at right by the bookbinder. (B+)
XIIII. How They Cook their Fish. Condition: (A)
XV. How They Boil Meal in Earthenware Pots. Condition: (A)
XVI. How They Eat. Condition: (A)
XVII. Praying Around the Fire with Rattles. Condition: (A)
XIX. The Town of Pomeiock. Condition: A light dampstain at top and a small chip in the image at left. (B+)
XX. The Town of Secota. Condition: Light toning and foxing with some tiny chips in the image at right. (B)
XXI. The Idol Kewas. Condition: Moderate toning. (B)
XXII. The Tomb of the Weroans. Condition: Moderate toning. (B)
XXIII. The Marks of the Chief Men of Virginia. Condition: Moderate foxing. (B)
I. Pictiicon. Condition: A dampstain at center with an abrasion and short tear. (B)
II. Fminae Pictaeicon. Condition: Light toning with a small dampstain in the image at bottom. (B+)
III. Virginis Pictaeicon. Condition: Small spot in the image. (A)
IIII. Alterius viri Pictis Viciniicon. Condition: One small spot in the image and old manuscript ink notation in top margin. (A)
V. Feminae Pictis Vicinaeicon. Condition: Moderate soiling and some small abrasions due to a previous owner tracing the figure. (B)

References:

Condition:

See above for condition grade of each plate. The text has occasional toning and foxing. The title page is soiled, has an old manuscript ink notation in the top margin, has chips and tears along the edges of the sheet with loss of a minute amount of the image at left, and has been pasted onto another sheet for support. The dedication page has light toning and extraneous creasing. The text and plates are from different examples as the sheet sizes do not match throughout.