"[The French Discover Six Other Rivers] Wie die Franzosen Sechtz Andere Wasser Angetroffen Haben", Le Moyne/De Bry

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 engraving is from a German edition of Part II of de Bry's Grands Voyages (Brevis Narratio Eorum quae in Florida Americae Provincia Gallis Acciderunt). It is based on Le Moyne's famous drawings of the French colonial attempts in southeastern Florida in the 1560s. It depicts the expedition of Captain Jean Ribault and his men discovering six rivers off the coast of present-day Georgia. The rivers are identified as Charenta (Sapelo Sound), Garumna (St. Catherines Sound), Gironda (Ossabaw Sound), Bellum (Wassaw Sound) and Magnum (Tybee Roads); the sixth river, Loire (Altahama Sound) is not named in the engraved image. The engraving is embellished with a sea monster at bottom right. On a sheet of German text measuring 9.4 x 12.0".

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Condition: B+

On a sheet with a fleur-de-lis watermark. There is light soiling and a couple professionally repaired tears that enter the engraved image at bottom left. A large chip outside the image at bottom right has been skillfully replaced.