West-Indianischer Historien Ander Theil / Cocos Insel. Cocos Insula.

  • Translation

Article ID OZ0419

Title

West-Indianischer Historien Ander Theil / Cocos Insel. Cocos Insula.

Description

Map showing the landing of Le Maire and Schouten at Cocos Island in May 1616 (today’s Tafahi in the Tonga Islands). Named by the Dutch for its abundance of coconuts. On the back is a sailing ship of the Tonga Islands. The page is taken from a first edition of Johann Ludwig Gottfried's ;Newe Welt Vnd Americanische Historien/ Jnhaltende Warhafftige vnd volkommene Beschreibungen Aller West-Indianischen Landschafften…; published by M.Merian in 1631

Year

ca. 1631

Artist

Bry, de (1528-1598)

Theodorus de Bry (1528-1598) Frankfurt a.M. Around 1570, Theodorus de Bry, a Protestant, fled religious persecution south to Strasbourg, along the west bank of the Rhine. In 1577, he moved to Antwerp in the Duchy of Brabant, which was part of the Spanish Netherlands or Southern Netherlands and Low Countries of that time (16th Century), where he further developed and used his skills as a copper engraver. Between 1585 and 1588 he lived in London, where he met the geographer Richard Hakluyt and began to collect stories and illustrations of various European explorations, most notably from Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues. Depiction of Spanish atrocities in the New World, as recounted by Bartolome de las Casas in Narratio Regionum indicarum per Hispanos Quosdam devastatarum verissima. In 1588, Theodorus and his family moved permanently to Frankfurt-am-Main, where he became citizen and began to plan his first publications. The most famous one is known as Les Grands Voyages, i.e., The Great Travels, or The Discovery of America. He also published the largely identical India Orientalis-series, as well as many other illustrated works on a wide range of subjects. His books were published in Latin, and were also translated into German, English and French to reach a wider reading public. The two collections of travelogues published by Theodor de Bry in Frankfurt are among the most important of the early modern period and established his reputation for posterity: He created The Arrival of Columbus in the New World in 1594. The West Indian Voyages (ed. 1590-1618) chronicled the discovery and conquest of the Americas by Europeans, while the East Indian Voyages followed the rise of Holland as a trading power in Asia around 1600. Both series appeared in German and Latin, were intended for a European audience, and were richly illustrated with copper engravings. Theodor de Bry was only able to publish six parts of his complete works. After his death, his sons Johann Theodor and Johann Israel and then Johann Theodor's son-in-law Matthäus Merian continued the work until 1634. In the end, it contained 25 parts and over 1500 copper engravings. The brothers were succeeded as engravers and publishers by Sebastian Furck.

Historical Description

The actual settlement began around 1500–1300 BC. BC presumably from the Philippines and Taiwan. In the course of many centuries the immigrants reached one island after the other and expanded the settlement area further and further east. Above all, the Polynesians embarked on impressive voyages of discovery from their core area, the island triangle Tonga-Fiji-Samoa. With their outrigger canoes they reached Hawaii, New Zealand and in the east of the Pacific to Easter Island. The history of this pre-European colonization is difficult to research because the peoples of Oceania had no writing. Only a few oral traditions have survived into modern times, such as B. the settlement of New Zealand by Tama Te Kapua. Written records only existed with the European voyages of discovery from the 16th century. The European spirit of discovery of the 16th century is decisive for numerous expeditions. The first focus is on exploring a western route across the Pacific to the wealthy trading centers of Asia. Later, mainly Spanish and Portuguese adventurers search for the hypothetical southern continent Terra Australis Incognita or hope to find legendary riches like the mines of King Solomon. Due to inadequate navigation techniques, some of the island groups discovered, e.g. B. the Solomon Islands, can no longer be found and fell into oblivion. At the end of the 16th century, the Dutch also began exploring Oceania. In the 17th century the Europeans still did not know a lot about the Pacific and especially the stories of those returning home about paradise attract more and more sailors. The motivation to travel to new worlds is great, but goes hand in hand with the greed for the pristine natural resources of the new world. Meanwhile, the church worries about the "mixing" with the heathen peoples, but is nevertheless interested in the salvation of the "savages". She reacts by publicly discrediting the fornication with the inhabitants and delegating missionaries to assist with the journeys. In the 18th century only a few islands are still undiscovered, but circumnavigators such as Louis Antoine de Bougainville, James Cook and others still find some unexplored areas. In addition, some of the discoveries of the 16th century were forgotten again. Some now set about mapping the islands using modern means.

Place of Publication Frankfurt on Main
Dimensions (cm)28,5 x 18,5 cm
ConditionLeft margin enlarged.
Coloringoriginal colored
TechniqueCopper print

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