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 Plates XXIII and XXIV from Part IV of de Bry's Grands Voyages, the volume focusing on Girolamo Benzoni's travels in the Caribbean and Central America. Plate XXIII is a grim scene depicting the various methods of suicide chosen by the Hispaniola natives in response to their despair over Spanish rule. Plate XXIV documents the rituals of the Indigenous peoples as they worship a strange, multi-headed relgious idol. Published in 1594 in the first edition, second issue, with the addition of Arabic numbers in the plates. On sheets of Latin text measuring 9.3 x 13.6".

References: Church #154; Van Groesen (De Bry's America) p. 222-23.

Condition: B+

Nice impressions on lightly toned sheets. The first engraving is on watermarked paper with a small dark spot in the image and light dampstaining in the bottom left margin. The second engraving has a minor spot in the image.