De Bry, Theodor, Johann Theodor, and Johann Israel

11 volumes in 3, Latin text, folio (345 x 230mm.), numerous engraved titles, maps, plates and illustrations, contemporary calf gilt with arms of Glascock of Dyves Hall and Chiche, Essex, slight soiling, a few maps shaved, some browning of text (more so in volume 3), binding somewhat worn; due to the complexities of collation and the made-up nature of this (and many other) copies, the lot is sold not subject to return

The set comprises:



Part I. [Hariot's Virginia]. Admiranda Narratio fida tamen, de commodis et incolarum ritibus Virginiae. [Frankfurt: Johannes Wecheli, 1590 (but 1608)], engraved title with blank imprint, engraved arms on dedication, folding engraved map of Virginia (State 5), 26 (of 27) plates and illustrations in text, plate XVII blank but text present, second edition first issue, Church 142

Part II. [Le Moyne's Florida]. Brevis narratio eorum quae in Florida Americae Provincia Gallis acciderunt. Auctore Jacobo le Moyne. Frankfurt, 1591 (but 1609), 2 parts, engraved titles, engraved arms on dedication, folding engraved map of Florida, 43 plates and illustrations in text, second edition, Church 146



Part III. [Stadius's Brazil]. Americae tertia pars Memorabilem provinciae Brasiliae Historiam continens, germanico primum sermone scriptam a Ioanne Stadio. Frankfurt, 1592 [sectional titles and colophon: 1605], 2 parts, engraved title to part 1, printed title to part 2, engraved arms on dedication, engraved armorial plate at a2r, folding engraved map of South America, 45 engraved illustrations in the text, 30 engraved plates repeated to 45 impressions, first edition, second issue, Church 149



Part IV. [Benzoni's History of the New World]. Americae pars quarta, sive, Insignis & Admiranda Historia de reperta primum Occidentali India à Christophoro Columbo Anno M.CCCCXCII scripta ab Hieronymo Bezono Mediolanense. Frankfurt, 1594, 2 parts, engraved titles to both parts, engraved armorial plate, double-page engraved map of the Caribbean, 26 engraved illustrations in the text, first edition, second issue, Church 154



Part V. [Benzoni's History, continued]. Americae pars quinta. secundae sectionis Hia [Historiae] Hispanorum. Frankfurt: Theodore de Bry, 1596 [but 1617], 2 parts, engraved titles in both parts, engraved portrait of Colombus at part ii a2r, folding engraved map of New Spain (shaved), 22 engraved illustrations in text, second edition, Church 157



Part VI. [Benzoni's History, concluded]. Americae pars sexta, sive historiae ab Hieronymo Benzono Mediolanese scriptae, sectio tertia. Frankfurt: Theodore de Bry, 1596 [but 1617], 2 parts, engraved title to part 1, letterpress title to part 2 dated 1617, double-page engraved plan of Cuzco and map of the Americas, 28 engraved illustrations in the text, second edition, first issue, Church 159



Part VII. [Schmidel's Brazil and Paraguay]. Americae Pars VII. Verissima et Iucundissima description praecipuarum quarundam Indiae regionum & insularum. Frankfurt: Theodore de Bry, 1599, engraved title, 1 engraved illustration in text, first edition, Church 161



Part VIII. [Voyages of Drake, Cavendish and Raleigh]. Americae pars VIII… Frankfurt: Mathew Beck, 1625, engraved map on title, 18 engraved illustrations in text and folding map of northern South America, first edition, first issue, Church 163



Part  IX. [Acosta's History of the New World. Voyages of Seebald de Weert and van Noort’s Voyage through the straits of Magellan to the Moluccas]. Americae nona & postrema pars… Frankfurt: Mattheus Becker, 1602, 5 parts in one volume, part I engraved title and coat of arms; part II (‘Relatio historica’) engraved vignette on title, map of the Magellan Straits; part III (‘Idaea vera’) 25 engraved illustrations; part IV (‘Additamentum’) engraved vignette on title; part V (‘Vera et genvina’) 14 engraved illustrations, first edition, Church 168



Part X. [The Voyages of Vespucci, Harriot’s Account of Virginia and Smith’s Description of Virginia]. Americae parts Decima. Oppenheim, 1619, printed title with engraved vignette, 12 engraved illustrations in text, sole edition, first issue, Church 170



Part XI. [The Circumnavigation of Schouten and Van Spilbergen]. Americae pars undecimal. Oppenheim, 1619, 2 parts, printed titles (part 1 with miniature engraved twin-hemispherical world map), part 2 (Appendix) with allegorical vignette of Neptune, double-page engraved maps of the East Indies, the South Pacific and New Guinea, 29 engraved illustrations in the text, sole edition, Church 172

the condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The "Great Voyages" became the foundation work on the Americas and were largely responsible for the European conception of the New World.