Theodore de Bry (German, circa 1527 to 1598)
A German publisher and engraver, Theodore de Bry was born in Liege, Belgium circa 1527 and moved to Frankfurt-am-Main circa 1570, where he established an engraving, publishing and bookselling business. He died in 1598.
De Bry is known to have engraved a number of charts in Waghenaer’s The Mariner’s Mirrour published in London in 1588. In that same year, also in London, an account was published by Thomas Hariot, illustrated by the artist John White, describing Raleigh’s abortive attempt to found a colony in Virginia, and this was to be the inspiration for de Bry’s major work, the series of maps Grands Voyages and Petits Voyages from the old world to the new. In all, 54 parts of these two works were issued containing very fine illustrations and beautiful, and now very rare, maps, much sought after by collectors.
The Grand Voyages to North and South America were pubished in 14 parts as follows: Part 1 by Theodore de Bry, published 1590 in English, French, German and Latin. Parts 2 through 6, published from 1592 to 1597, in German and Latin. Parts 7 through 9, published by de Bry’s widow and his sons from 1598 through 1602, in German and Latin. Parts 10 through 14 were published by Matthaus Merian (a noted Swiss engineer and de Bry’s son-in-law) from 1619 to 1630, in German and Latin.
The Petits Voyages: Accounts of voyages to India and the Far East were started by de Brys in 1598 and were continued in thirteen parts by his his widow and sons and completed by Matthaus Merian in 1628, in German and Latin (Part 13 in German only).
De Bry’s work, particularly with these maps, has earned him the reputation as one of the finest engravers of all time.