Montanus' work was perhaps the greatest illustrated book on the New World produced in the seventeenth century. It contained over one hundred beautifully engraved plates, views, and maps of North and South America. The plates vividly depict forts, festivals, occupations, Dutch fleets, battles, religious rites, and customs of the native inhabitants. This important work was translated into German by Olivier Dapper, and into English by John Ogilby. Several of the plates were later acquired by Pierre Vander Aa.

This evocative title page is from Ogilby's translation of Arnoldus Montanus's America de Nieuwe Onbekende Weereld. Indeed, it is copied from the frontispiece for that volume. Publisher Jacob van Meurs evidently allowed Ogilby to use the plate for his English edition - the only difference between the two is the lack of an imprint on the Ogilby plate. The engraving presents a fanciful scene of natives in ceremonial costume with a variety of indigenous animals and products. At center, an Amazon queen representing America is being hoisted in an enormous shell by two Titans.

References: Shirley (TP) #63A.

Condition: B+

A fine impression on a lightly toned sheet with some dampstaining in the margins. There are remnants of hinge tape on verso.