Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas was the official chronicler of the Spanish possessions in the Indies. His most important work, Historia General…, told across eight decadas that were originally published between 1601-15, begins with the history of the voyages of Columbus and includes events in America up to 1554, with the suppression of the revolt of Francisco Hernandez Giron in Peru. All editions are scarce today. This is the title page of the first decada and features portraits of famous explorers and soldiers and small views and maps of important events and battles. In the upper corners are portraits of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile, the Catholic Monarchs of a dynastically unified Spain. At bottom are portraits of Christopher Columbus (Don Xpoual Colon Primero Almirante de las Indias) and his younger brother Bartholomew, who followed his brother to Hispaniola in 1494, founded the city of Santo Domingo, and later accompanied his brother on his final voyage to the New World in 1502. Vignettes surrounding the title include Columbus's departure from Palos de la Frontera, his arrival in the Bahamas, and his various encounters with the Indigenous people of the New World, most of them violent. The sheet is further decorated by an inverted depiction of the New World (with a massive southern continent) and two coats of arms, including the arms of the House of Trastamara. From an early 18th century edition published by Nicolas Rodriguez.

References: Sabin #31544.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression with light soiling and a couple of small chips along the edges of the sheet. There are a few short edge tears that have been closed on verso with archival tape.