Antique Print-MADAGASCAR-AFRICA-ST. LAURETY-PORTUGUESE EXPLORERS-de Bry-1598

Description This print shows a view on the island St. Laurety, an uncommon map of Madagascar which illustrates the earliest voyage of the Dutch to the East Indies in 1595. The map is oriented by two large compass roses with northeast to the top. The corners of the map are filled with four detailed insets of the important bays showing the navigational hazards and Insula de S. Maria. Place names are from the earliest Portuguese explorers. Made by Johan Theodore de Bry after Theodoor de Bry. Medium: engraving on handlaid (verge) paper. Sheet size: 20.7 x 30.5 cm (8.15 x 12.01 inch). Image size: 20 x 14.5 cm. (7.87 x 5.71 inch). Condition: good, given age. Brownish paper Creases. Fold on right. Cuttings on right restored. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully. MADAGASCAR-AFRICA-ST. LAURETY-DUTCH VOYAGE-PORTUGUESE EXPLORERS | RBOS-A10-39 BACKGROUND INFORMATION This attractive print was published in Part III of de Bry’s Petits Voyages. On a textleaf in the print “from J.T. DE BRY, Indiae orientalis navigationes, 1598-1607”. 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. Biography artist: Theodore de Bry (1528-27 March 1598) was a Liege goldsmith, graphic artist and illustrator and ancestor of a publishing family. Theodoor de Bry is still best known for the engravings he made with his sons Johan Theodoor and Johan Israel about exotic regions, in particular about the discovery and conquest of America.