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 striking engraving appeared as Plate 23 in the sixth part of De Bry's Grands Voyages, covering the last part of Girolamo Benzoni's travels in the West Indies and America. It shows the Indigenous people near the Gulf of Uraba in one of the treehouses they built to elevate above the swampy land around the Atrato River. They are depicted here attacking from above as the Spanish try to chop their home down. On a sheet of Latin text measuring 9.5 x 12.5".

References: Curch #158-23.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression. There are a couple short tears in engraved image that have been backed with archival materials on verso.