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 Johann Theodore's son-in-law, Matthaus Merian, in 1624.

This pair of excellently engraved views were published as Plates III and VII in Part XI of de Bry's Grands Voyages (published by Johann Theodore de Bry). Plate III depicts Joris van Spilbergen's fleet landing on Mocha Island, off the coast of Chile, on April 24, 1615. It chronicles the crew's journey to the island, where they exhanged goods with the native Mapuches and played music on the beach. In the foreground, a Mapuche man and woman stand with a Chilihueque, an extinct camelid species from the region. Plate VII shows van Spilbergen's ships arriving in the bay of Quintero, just one day after skirmishing with the Spanish in Valparaiso. They engage in sea combat with the Spanish in the bay; an Indigenous family appears in the foreground. On sheets of German text measuring 8.6 x 12.7".

References: Church #198.

Condition: A

Crisp engravings with minor marginal soiling.