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 set of plates is from the second Latin edition of Part II of De Bry's Grands Voyages, and includes the title page, an engraving of Noah's Ark, the letterpress title page to the plates, and 41 of the 42 classic plates on the Indigenous peoples of Florida (missing Plate XXV - How the Indians Hunt Deer). The plates are based on Le Moyne's famous drawings of the French colonial attempts in southeastern Florida in the 1560s. The additional engraving of Noah's ark preceded the text on Florida and seems to suggest a fantastical landing of the ark in the New World. Latin text below each plate and blank versos with the exception of the plate of Noah and the ark, which has text on verso. The plates depict:

Noah's Ark
I) The Arrival of the French in Florida in 1562
II) The French Discover the River of May (St. Johns)
III) The French Discover Two Other Rivers
IV) They Discover Six More Rivers
V) The French Reach Port Royal
VI) The French Erect a Column with the Royal Coat of Arms
VII) Those Left Behind Run Short of Food
VIII) The Indians Worship the Column Erected by the French
IX) A Site for the Fort Is Chosen
X) Fort Caroline
XI) Satouriona Prepares for Battle
XII) Consulting a Sorcerer
XIII) The French Help Outina Fight the Patanou
XIV) How Outina's Army Marches to War
XV) How the Indians Treated the Corpses of Their Enemy
XVI) Indian Victory Ceremonies
XVII) The Duties of the Hermaphrodites
XVIII) How the Widows Petition Their Chief
XIX) How the Widows Lament at the Burial Grounds
XX) How the Indians Treat Their Sick
XXI) How the Indians Till the Soil
XXII) Collecting Crops for the Communal Storehouse
XXIII) Collecting Game for the Communal Storehouse
XXIV) How the Indians Preserved Game
XXVI) Killing Alligators
XXVII) How the Floridians Go Swimming from Island to Island
XXVIII) Preparing for a Feast
XXIX) An Indian Council Meeting
XXX) A Fortified Indian Village
XXXI) Setting Fire to the Enemy’s Village
XXXII) How a Sentry Was Treated for Negligence
XXXIII) How the Indians Declare War
XXXIV) The Sacrifice of the First-Born Son
XXXV) A Harvest Offering
XXXVI) How the Young Men Were Trained
XXXVII) A Bride Is Carried to the Chief
XXXVIII) The Chief Receives His Bride
XXXIX) Satouriona and his Wife Go for a Stroll
XL) How the Chief Is Buried
XLI) How the Indians Collect Gold from the Streams
XLII) The Murder of the Frenchman, Pierre Gambie

The majority of the plates are still bound together (without covers or a spine), however the title page, engraving of Noah's Ark, letterpress title page to the plates, and 13 plates (I-IV, XI, XVIII, XXXVI-XLII) are loose. As there is some variation in the paper sizes of the loose pages, these pages are likely from different examples of the second Latin edition.

References: Church #146; Van Groesen (De Bry's America) pp. 92-145.

Condition: B+

The plates are generally in very good condition with light toning and occasional small chips or tears along the edges of the sheets. Plate VIII has a tear that enters the text at bottom, and XII has a tear in the bottom right corner, both of which have been closed on verso with archival tape. There is a dampstain along the binding edge on Plates V-XII that doesn't enter the images. Plates XXIX-XXXI have an ink stain in the text below the image, causing a small hole on plate XXX. Plate XXXVIII has three worm tracks at top and a small paper flaw in the center of the image. Plate XXXVI has moderate toning and dampstaining at left, and is only in "B" condition. The title page is also in "B" condition with light soiling and dampstains, and was trimmed to the neatline at right and bottom, with 3/4 of the bottom margin replaced with period-correct paper.