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 outlandish engraving was originally published as Plate XXII in Part IV of de Bry's Grands Voyages. It presents a somewhat fantastical account of Vespucci's landing in Colombia during his voyage with Alonso de Ojeda in 1499-1500. In the foreground at left are dragon-like iguanas that are tied up, with one unlucky one being roasted on a fire at right. The Indigenous people give Vespucci's crew a warm welcome, even presenting the Europeans their women in the background. The plate was 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. On a sheet of German text measuring 9.0 x 14.0".

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Condition: A

A dark impression with marginal toning.