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 sheet features two striking engravings that originally appeared as Plates XI and XII in Part XI of de Bry's Grands Voyages. They were republished in Johann Ludwig Gottfried's Newe Welt und Americanische Historien, a collection of voyages. Also known as Historia Antipodum, Gottfried's work is an abridgement of de Bry's voyages to America that incorporates much new material. Matthaus Merian, de Bry's son-in-law and publisher for Historia Antipodum, was granted access to de Bry's copper-engraved plates. The engraving on recto depicts Dutch naval officer Joris van Spilbergen's arrival in the Peruvian coastal town of Huarmey. The expedition is shown attempting to replenish their stocks and investigate a castle; Spanish horsemen ride off to report their landing. The engraving on verso documents a Dutch fleet attacking a Spanish stronghold in the important port city of Paita. In August 1615, Spilbergen reached the port of Paita, anchored his ships offshore, and led 300 men onshore to attack the Spaniards. The Spanish soon gave up and retreated. In the foreground is a large bird representing an Andean condor, believed to have been caught by the Dutch on the nearby island of Lobos de Tierra. On a sheet of German text measuring 9.1 x 13.6".

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Condition: A

Nice impressions with a couple minor spots. There is faint toning and soiling confined to the sheet's edges.