The earliest obtainable view of any city within the United States
Drake's raids against St. Augustine, Cartagena, Santo Domingo and Praia, Great Voyages, De Bry, 1599
This is based on the Baptista Boazio plans of 1588. These depicted Sir Francis Drake's raids during his famous West Indian voyage of 1585-86.
Theodore de Bry (1528 – 1598) and his family.
Theodore de Bry was born in 1528 in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège in the southern Netherlands (today Belgium). Trained as a goldsmith in his father's workshop, he left his home town around 1558 and moved to Strasbourg. Religious motives partly inspired his emigration, but commercial incentives were probably more critical for de Bry since Strasbourg was more attractive. Here, he gradually began to shift his focus to copper engraving. In the early 1560s, Theodore married Strasbourg-born Katharina Esslinger, and the couple went on to have four children together before Katharina died c. 1569. Johan Theodore (b. 1563) and Johan Israel (b. 1565) followed in their father's footsteps and took up his trade. He remarried in 1570 to Katharina Rölinger.
In 1577, after the Pacification of Gent had quietened religious tensions in the Netherlands, Theodore and his family moved to Antwerp. There, they lived close to the printing house of Christopher Plantin, and it was there that Theodore began making copper engravings. Copper engraving was a well-developed art in the Low Countries, and Antwerp artists were in great demand. In 1584, when Catholic troops besieged Antwerp, Theodore and his family moved to London, where he made copper engravings for an essential English navigation manual, The Mariners Mirrour. He also found the inspiration to produce the collection to which his name would forever be attached.
He met the artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a draughtsman who had been to Florida in the 1560s as part of a French expedition. He returned to Europe with watercolours of the natural world he had seen and the indigenous peoples. After Le Moyne's death, thanks to the mediation of Richard Hakluyt, Theodore acquired these drawings.
Hakluyt and de Bry began collaborating on a series of books about America. In 1588, the de Bry family moved to Frankfurt, where Theodore published the first volume of the America series. This first volume was the only one in the collection that appeared in four different languages: German, Latin, French and English. The following volumes appeared only in German and Latin. As a result, the relationship between de Bry and his English partners quickly soured.
Theodore continued publishing and produced a blend of richly illustrated prestigious volumes of the Voyages collection, the family firm's flagship publication.
Theodore de Bry died on March 27th, 1598. At this time, the highly successful and lucrative America series had already extended to seven volumes, and there would be fourteen. To these must be added the 'Elenchus', published in 1634 by Merian, which was a collective title and table of contents of these same volumes.
In 1597, the de Bry brothers published the first volume of the East India series. These were also published in folio but with slightly smaller page sizes than the America volumes. To distinguish the East India series from his America series, the two parallel sets subsequently became known among bibliophiles as de Bry’s Petits Voyages and his Grands Voyages, respectively.
The Petits Voyages consist of thirteen volumes, published between 1597 and 1633.
After Theodore de Bry's death, the business was run by his son, Johann Theodore and then by his grandson, Matthäus Merian and grandson-in-law, William Fitzer. Precisely what part de Bry's widow and his other son played in the business is unclear, but they certainly seemed to have retained some interest. After all, it must have become a very profitable venture for the whole family. Together, they continued to publish volumes of the Grands and Petits Voyages for another 46 years. The last volume, a third edition of Part IV of the America series, finally appeared in 1644.
Expugnato civitatis S. Augustini in America sitae. / Franciscus Draco Carthagenam civitatem expugnat. / Quomodo Franciscus Draco, civitatem S. Dominico in Insula Hispaniola sitam expugnauerit./ Quomodo Dn. Franciscus Draco civitatem et insulam S. Iacobi expugnatam obtinuerit.
Item Number: 30739 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > America > North America
Four plates. Complete set of Drake's raids against St. Augustine (USA), Cartagena (Colombia), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Praia (Cape Verde), Great Voyages, De Bry, 1599.
Title: Expugnato civitatis S. Augustini in America sitae. / Franciscus Draco Carthagenam civitatem expugnat. / Quomodo Franciscus Draco, civitatem S. Dominico in Insula Hispaniola sitam expugnauerit./ Quomodo Dn. Franciscus Draco civitatem et insulam S. Iacobi expugnatam obtinuerit.
Date of the first edition: 1599.
Date of this map: 1599.
Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Image size: 155 x 215mm (6.1 x 8.46 inches).
Sheet size: 315 x 230mm (12.4 x 9.06 inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Beautiful original coloured and heightened in gold and silver, some small wormholes restored.
Condition Rating: A.
From: de Bry Theodore, Grand Voyages. - [Voyages of Sir Francis Drake, Thomas Candish and Sir Walter Raleigh.] Americae pars VIII. Continens primo, descriptionem trium itinerum nobilissimi et fortissimi equitis Francisci Draken, qui peragrato primum universo terrarum orbe, postea cum nobilissimo equite Iohanne Hauckens, ad expug-nandum civitatem Panama, in Indiam navigavit, ubi vitam suam ambo finierunt. . . . Frankfurt am Main, 1599.
This is based on the Baptista Boazio plans of 1588. These depicted Sir Francis Drake's raids during his famous West Indian voyage of 1585-86.
Theodore de Bry (1528 – 1598) and his family.
Theodore de Bry was born in 1528 in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège in the southern Netherlands (today Belgium). Trained as a goldsmith in his father's workshop, he left his home town around 1558 and moved to Strasbourg. Religious motives partly inspired his emigration, but commercial incentives were probably more critical for de Bry since Strasbourg was more attractive. Here, he gradually began to shift his focus to copper engraving. In the early 1560s, Theodore married Strasbourg-born Katharina Esslinger, and the couple went on to have four children together before Katharina died c. 1569. Johan Theodore (b. 1563) and Johan Israel (b. 1565) followed in their father's footsteps and took up his trade. He remarried in 1570 to Katharina Rölinger.
In 1577, after the Pacification of Gent had quietened religious tensions in the Netherlands, Theodore and his family moved to Antwerp. There, they lived close to the printing house of Christopher Plantin, and it was there that Theodore began making copper engravings. Copper engraving was a well-developed art in the Low Countries, and Antwerp artists were in great demand. In 1584, when Catholic troops besieged Antwerp, Theodore and his family moved to London, where he made copper engravings for an essential English navigation manual, The Mariners Mirrour. He also found the inspiration to produce the collection to which his name would forever be attached.
He met the artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a draughtsman who had been to Florida in the 1560s as part of a French expedition. He returned to Europe with watercolours of the natural world he had seen and the indigenous peoples. After Le Moyne's death, thanks to the mediation of Richard Hakluyt, Theodore acquired these drawings.
Hakluyt and de Bry began collaborating on a series of books about America. In 1588, the de Bry family moved to Frankfurt, where Theodore published the first volume of the America series. This first volume was the only one in the collection that appeared in four different languages: German, Latin, French and English. The following volumes appeared only in German and Latin. As a result, the relationship between de Bry and his English partners quickly soured.
Theodore continued publishing and produced a blend of richly illustrated prestigious volumes of the Voyages collection, the family firm's flagship publication.
Theodore de Bry died on March 27th, 1598. At this time, the highly successful and lucrative America series had already extended to seven volumes, and there would be fourteen. To these must be added the 'Elenchus', published in 1634 by Merian, which was a collective title and table of contents of these same volumes.
In 1597, the de Bry brothers published the first volume of the East India series. These were also published in folio but with slightly smaller page sizes than the America volumes. To distinguish the East India series from his America series, the two parallel sets subsequently became known among bibliophiles as de Bry’s Petits Voyages and his Grands Voyages, respectively.
The Petits Voyages consist of thirteen volumes, published between 1597 and 1633.
After Theodore de Bry's death, the business was run by his son, Johann Theodore and then by his grandson, Matthäus Merian and grandson-in-law, William Fitzer. Precisely what part de Bry's widow and his other son played in the business is unclear, but they certainly seemed to have retained some interest. After all, it must have become a very profitable venture for the whole family. Together, they continued to publish volumes of the Grands and Petits Voyages for another 46 years. The last volume, a third edition of Part IV of the America series, finally appeared in 1644.
Related items
America Sive Novus Orbis Respectu Europaeorum Inferior Globi Terrestri Pars. 1596. 1596
The Americas by Theodore de Bry.
[Item number: 12546]
Heightened in gold and silver.
Neuwe Landtaffel, in welcher eigentlich, und warhafftiglich furgestelt wird, das gewaltige und goldtreiche Kunigreich Guiana : so daligt under der aequinoctial Linien zwischer Brasilien und Peru / observiert und abgerisen von ein emschiffman so selbst mit her Ralegh der fahrt gewessen. 1599
Guyana - El Dorado by Theodore de Bry
[Item number: 28292]
Heightened in gold and silver
Quomodo guiani avreas suas imagines fundere soleant. 1599
How the Guyanese make their golden statues. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30677]
Heightened in gold and silver
Decem Hispani ab Indianis opprimuntur, spoliantur & trucidantur. 1599
Concerning the 10 Spaniards who were attacked, beaten and robbed by the Indians. Great Voyages, De Bry.
[Item number: 30678]
Heightened in gold and silver
Quomodo duci Candisch, indiani in quodam loco ligna & aquam dulcem obtulerint. 1599
How Thomas Cavendish came to an island where the Indians gave him wood and fresh water. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30704]
Heightened in gold and silver
Quidam indiani ducem candisch in itinere adoriuntur. 1599
What was delivered to Cavendish on his voyage by a number of Indians. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30707]
Heightened in gold and silver
Christiani ab indianis nefarie et fraudulenter trucidantur. 1599
The Spanish are treacherously killed by the Indians. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30709]
Heightened in gold and silver
Gualtherus Ralegh amicitiam contrahit cum Rege Arromaia. 1599
How Raleigh established friendly relations with the King of Arromaia. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30711]
Heightened in gold and silver
Petrus Manchossa tribus furibus iusticiam administrat. 1599
Pedro de Mendoza administers justice in the case of three thieves. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30712]
Heightened in gold and silver
Gualtherus Ralegh expugnata vivitate, hispanum Gubernatorem captiuum abducit. 1599
How Walter Raleigh conquered a city, and captured the Spanish governor. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30715]
Heightened in gold and silver
Populorum qui hyberno tempore in arboribus rupibusque habitant, ceremoniae & ritus cum defunctis. 1599
How some peoples live in trees or high cliffs during the winter, with remarks on the ceremonies they hold for their dead. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30716]
Heightened in gold and silver
Quomodo dn. Candisch in quadaminsula multos canes marinos varij generis invenerit. 1599
How Thomas Cavendish comes to an island where there are many strange seals. Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30718]
Heightened in gold and silver
[No title] 1599
World by Theodore De Bry, Great Voyages,
[Item number: 30719]
Drake map heightened in gold and silver
[No title] 1599
World by Theodore De Bry, Great Voyages,
[Item number: 30725]
Heightened in gold and silver
[No title] 1599
Atlantic Ocean by Theodore De Bry, Great Voyages,
[Item number: 30730]
Heightened in gold and silver
Quid Dn. Francisco Draken non procul a rio de Platta acciderit. 1599
What happened to Francis Drake not far from the island of Rio de Plata, Great Voyages, De Bry,
[Item number: 30737]