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 interesting engraving is one of the five engravings of the ancient Pict tribe of Britain included in Part I of De Bry's Grands Voyages. It shows an adult Pict woman with intricate body ornamentation, wielding a lance and two darts. Engraved by Theodore de Bry, whose initials "T.B." appear at the bottom of the plate, and 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. From the third German edition of Part I. On a sheet of German text measuring 9.2 x 14.0".

References: Church #178; Van Groesen (De Bry's America) pp. 86 & 89.

Condition: B+

On watermarked paper with light toning, a small ink stain at center, and a wormtrack and two small wormholes in the bottom blank margin.