Catalog Archive
Auction 174, Lot 360

28 Engravings and a Title Page from Benzoni's Account

"[Lot of 29 Engravings] Americae Pars Sexta...", Bry, Theodore de

Subject: Peru, Panama & Colombia, Natives

Period: 1596 (published)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
8.3 x 11.5 inches
21.1 x 29.2 cm
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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 lot includes the title page and 26 (of 28) half-page engravings for Part VI of De Bry's Grands Voyages, the concluding part of Girolamo Benzoni's account of his travels in the West Indies and America. This lot is missing Plate 4 (Pizarro forms a pact with Almagro) and Plate 7 (Atahualpa is captured by the Spanish), which have been replaced with the corresponding plates from Part V, the second part of Benzoni's account. The title page is beautifully engraved, showing natives working the gold mines, while the Inca king, Atahualpa, is being carried on the shoulders of his honor guard to meet Pizarro at the battle of Cajamarca. The plates feature Natives and their encounters with Francisco Pizarro, who led the Spanish conquest of Peru, and other Spaniards primarily in Peru, also with a few plates from Panama and Colombia:

1. Plans in Panama for the conquest of Peru (Panama) 2. Pizarro reaches the coast of Peru (Peru) 3. Pizarro is granted permission to conquer Peru (Peru) 4. [Replaced with Plate 4 from Part V] Black slaves escape punishment (Hispaniola) 5. De Soto meets the Inca king near Cajamarca (Peru) 6. The Inca King goes to meet Pizarro (Peru) 7. [Replaced with Plate 7 from Part V] Chorera in Cuba is burnt by the French (Cuba) 8. Indian women are raped by the Spanish (Peru) 9. The Inca King is ransomed (Peru) 10. The Incas begin collecting gold artifacts (Peru) 11. Atahualpa is garrotted (Peru) 12. The Spanish take over Cuzco (Peru) 13. The Incas lay siege to Cuzco (Peru) 14. Diego de Almagro is killed (Peru) 15. Francisco Pizarro is killed (Peru) 16. The bloody battle at Chupas (Peru) 17. The royal governor of Peru is installed (Peru) 18. The royal governor is sent home (Peru) 19. A vendetta against the last of the four Pizarro brothers (Peru) 20. How the load-bearers were punished (Peru) 21. The last of the Pizarro brothers is executed (Peru) 22. Inca gold goes to Panama (Panama) 23. The strange tree-houses in the gulf of Uraba (Colombia) 24. The Spanish try to destroy the tree-houses of the Atrato (Colombia) 25. The bridge of Huaynacapaco (Peru) 26. How the Inca nobility are buried (Peru) 27. How the Incas wrought their gold (Peru) 28. The strange tree that rained in the Canary Islands (Canary Islands)

References:

Condition: A

Nearly all of the engravings are in excellent condition - clean and bright with sharp impressions. The two plates from Part 5 (Plates 4 & 7) have moderate staining, mostly confined to the text below the image and the blank margins. A printer's crease at bottom right on the title page has been pressed flat, with some facsimile work added to fill in the blank space.

Estimate: $3,500 - $4,250

Sold for: $1,900

Closed on 9/11/2019

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