"Wie sie die Crocodilen Schiessen", Bry, Theodore de

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 fascinating engraving is from the remarkable series of publications known as the Grands Voyages. This series recounted the voyages of discovery to the Americas, and provided many Europeans with their first view of the New World. This engraving was published in Volume II, which recounted the French attempts at settlement in Florida, including the explorations of Laudonniere, Ribault, and Le Moyne. The engraving depicts how the Native Americans killed crocodiles. The foreground shows the first step, in which the Natives drive a pole into the crocodile's jaw. The next step is in the background, in which other Natives beat the crocodile with clubs and shoot it with arrows. The text below the image explains that the hut seen at left was used by a watchman who would wait until a crocodile approached the area. On a sheet of German text measuring 9.1 x 12.6".

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Condition: B+

A crisp impression, with minor toning and a small sliver of image trimmed at right. There is an old paper repair to several small chips along the edge of the sheet at top left, with a small portion of the paper overlapping the image.