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 uncommon group of engravings illustrate members of the ancient Pict tribe of Britain. The first plate is that of a Pictish warrior, with an elaborately painted or tattooed nude body, clutching the decapitated head of an enemy while another head rolls at his feet. The following two plates are of the Pictish women, one older, the second her daughter, both with intricate body ornamentation, as well as weaponry. The fourth plate shows a man of a neighboring tribe, wearing a tunic and lacking the body decorations, with the coastline in the background. The last plate depicts another female Pict, without ornamentation, holding a spear. All plates have German captions at bottom, and the title page to this section of Picts is included. The Pict plates were engraved by Theodore de Bry, whose initials "T.B." appear at the bottom of each plate, and were based on watercolors by Jacques le Moyne. De Bry included the Pict plates in his Grands Voyages to serve as a point of comparison to the Virginia Natives illustrated throughout Part I.

I. Contrafeyt Eines Manns der Picten
II. Contrafeit Einer Frawen ausz den Picten
III. Contrafeyt Einer Jungfrawen ausz den Picten
IV. Contrafeyt Eines Andern Manns / so den Picten Benachbawrt
V. Contrafeyt Einer Frawen / so mit den Picten Benachbawrt

References: Church #178.

Condition: B

The sheets have light to moderate toning, foxing, and soiling. The engravings for plates II and III have been pasted on from a different example. This set is comprised of two bifolia with one attached page and one loose page.