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 a nearly complete example of the sole German edition, second issue, of Part X of De Bry's Grands Voyages, still bound together but without covers or a spine. It consists of an engraved title page, all 73 pages of German text, a letterpress title page to the plates, and 12 engraved plates. The only piece missing from this example is the text below Plate I, which has been trimmed off. Plates I and III are from a different example, as they are loose and the size of the sheets are different. This part chronicles two voyages by Amerigo Vespucci, Ralph Hamor's experiences in Virginia, and Captain John Smith's expeditions in New England. The title page to this part features an engraving of galleons in the background with Neptune in the foreground, which signifies this example as the second issue, as the first issue included a different engraving on the title page. The engravings are:

I. Amerigo Vespucci visits Paria (Venezuela)
II. How the natives of Paria coped with illness (Venezuela)
III. Vespucci reaches 'lake' Maracaibo (Venezuela)
IV. Vespucci lands on Colombian shores (Colombia)
V. Vespucci lands on the island if 'Itius' (Guadeloupe or Dominica)
VI. Vespucci lands on the island of the Giants (Curacao)
VII. Powhatan's daughter is abducted (Virginia)
VIII. A truce between the Indians and the English (Virginia)
IX. The Chickahominy make peace with the English (Virginia)
X. Ralph Hamor visits Chief Powhatan (Virginia)
XI. English sporting life in Virginia (Virginia)
XII. John Smith is caught by the French (Atlantic Ocean)

References: Church #197.

Condition: B+

There is light soiling throughout and faint dampstains mostly along the fore-edge. There are worm tracks along the binding edge at top that impacts the last 20 pages of text and the first few plates, well away from the images. Plate I is only the top half of the sheet, missing the text below, and Plate III has an old paper repair on verso and a small chip at top right.