Lot 95: BRY, Theodor de (1528-1598) and Johann Theodor de BRY (1561-1623). [ Great Voyages . America, in Latin]. Frankfurt: Johann Wechel for Theodor de Bry, 1590-1597. [ Comprising :]

BRY, Theodor de (1528-1598) and Johann Theodor de BRY (1561-1623). [Great Voyages. America, in Latin]. Frankfurt: Johann Wechel for Theodor de Bry, 1590-1597. [Comprising:]

I. [Hariot's Virginia.] Admiranda narratio fida tamen, de commodis et incolarium ritibus Virginiae, 1590. Double-page map of Virginia, 22 engraved plates numbered II-XXIII (most in state I but some in state II), 5 engraved plates numbered 1-5. (Lacking engraved title, engraved plate of 'Adam and Eve' on d6, text to plate XX on D1, small tear to B8). FIRST EDITION, mostly first issue. Sabin III, pp. 24-26; Church 140.

II. [Le Moyne's Florida.] Brevis Narratio eorum quae in Florida Americae Provicia Gallis acciderunt.. auctore Jacobo le Moyne, 1591 [but 1609]. Engraved title, map of Florida, 42 engraved plates. (Lacking a letterpress title to plates on A1 and blank H2). SECOND EDITION WITH THE PLATES FROM THE FIRST EDITION. Sabin pp. 30-32; Church 145-146.

III. [Stadius's Brazil.] Americae tertia pars memorabile provinciae Brasiliae historiam contines, Germanico primum sermone scriptam a Ioanne Stadio, 1592 [but ca. 1597]. 2 engraved titles, engraved plate with seven scutcheons in second state, double-page folding map 'Americae pars magis cognita', 30 engraved plates repeated to 44 (of 45) impressions, full-page Adam and Eve plate on p. 144, with a2 wrongly signed as aI. (Lacking 2H1-2H4). FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE. Sabin pp. 33-35; Church 149.

IV. [Benzoni's History of the New World.] Americae pars quarta, sive, Insignis & Admiranda Historia de reperta primum Occidentali India Christophoro Columbo Anno M.CCCCXCII scripta ab Hieronymo Bezono, 1594. 2 engraved titles, double-page map of occidental America. (Edges of map repaired.) SECOND EDITION. O3 is not wrongly printed E3. Sabin pp. 36-37; Church 155.

V. [Benzoni's History, continued.] Americae pars quinta... secundae sectionis Hia [Historiae] Hispanorum. 1595. 2 engraved frontispiece, double-page map of new Spain dated 1595. FIRST EDITION but with the title of the second edition (with the word 'Hia'). Sabin pp. 38-39; Church 156.

VI. [Benzoni's History, concluded.] Americae pars sexta, sive historiae ab Hieronymo Benzono... scriptae, sectio tertia. 1596. 28 plates. (Lacking text leaves, double-page engraved plan of Cuzco, double-page engraved map of the Western Hemisphere). FIRST EDITION. Bound within the first book. Sabin pp. 39-40; Church 158.

Together parts I-VI only (of 13) in one volume, 2° (341 x 230mm). Engraved title in second state with 'Theodor' and 'Feirabendi'. (Occasional browning, sometimes heavy.) Contemporary mottled calf (rebacked, hinges cracked, spine rubbed). Provenance: RB (red 'Rejectaneis' stamp from the Reale Biblioteca Borbonica in Naples on title) -- canceled stamp on title.

FIRST AND SECOND EDITIONS OF THEODOR DE BRY'S GREAT VOYAGES: AMERICA. It includes the map of Virginia, engraved by De Bry from a manuscript by John White, which is ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CARTOGRAPHICAL MILESTONES IN COLONIAL NORTH AMERICA HISTORY. The Great Voyages became the foundation work on the Americas and were largely responsible for the European conception of the New World. Because of the numerous variations between sets of de Bry and the difficulty of establishing an ideal collation, this copy is sold not subject to return.

RAMELLI, Agostino (c.1531-c.1608).
Est. £6,500 - £8,500
($10,465 - $13,685)