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Stock# 8778
Description

One of the earliest obtainable detailed maps of the Coast of Georgia. The map shows the French discoveries along the coastline of Georgia. In 1562, the French fleet under the command of Jean Ribaut, first sighted the Florida coast in about 30° north of the equator, at a place they called Dolphin River. After sailing north, the French discovered a broad river, which they called May. Ultimately, the French discover six more rivers. These they called the Loire, Charente, Garonne, Gironde, Belle and the Grande. The first of these, the Loire, is not marked on the engraving but is thought to be Altamaha Sound. The others are marked respectively Charenta (Sapelo Sound), Garumna (St Catherines Sound), Gironda (Ossabaw Sound) and Bellum (Wassaw Sound). This early engraving shows the fleet and a row boat, along with a sea monster. Trimmed close at the right margin, but without significant loss.

Theodor De Bry Biography

Theodor de Bry (1528-1598) was a prominent Flemish engraver and publisher best known for his engravings of the New World. Born in Liege, de Bry hailed from the portion of Flanders then controlled by Spain. The de Brys were a family of jewelers and engravers, and young Theodor was trained in those artisanal trades.

As a Lutheran, however, his life and livelihood were threatened when the Spanish Inquisition cracked down on non-Catholics. De Bry was banished and his goods seized in 1570. He fled to Strasbourg, where he studied under the Huguenot engraver Etienne Delaune. He also traveled to Antwerp, London, and Frankfurt, where he settled with his family.

In 1590, de Bry began to publish his Les Grands Voyages, which would eventually stretch to thirty volumes released by de Bry and his two sons. The volumes contained not only important engraved images of the New World, the first many had seen of the geographic novelties, but also several important maps. He also published a collection focused on India Orientalis. Les Grands Voyages was published in German, Latin, French, and English, extending de Bry’s fame and his view of the New World.