Subject: East Indies - Indonesia, Exploration
Period: 1601 (published)
Publication:
Color: Black & White
Size:
8 x 11.6 inches
20.3 x 29.5 cm
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 the sole Latin edition of Part V of De Bry's Petits Voyages, consisting of 66 pages of Latin text, an engraved 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. 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)
Plates I, XVIII and XIX are loose from the volume and from a different example, as they are the only pages without all edges green. Based on the collation in Church, this volume lacks 2 blank leafs. Hardbound in dark green pebbled cloth; red leather label on spine with gilt titling; all edges green.
References: Church #212.
Condition: B+
The plates and text have light toning and occasional foxing and soiling. Plate I has a 4 mm hole and adjacent short tear in the engraving. Plates I, XVIII and XIX are loose from the volume. The title page is a bit more toned that the rest of the volume. The bindings are in excellent condition with very minor wear.