B
DE BRY, Theodore
By David Bannister
Oct 30, 2005, 13:11

De Bry was an engraver, bookseller and publisher, active in Frankfurt-am-Main, who is known to have engraved a number of charts in Waghenaer's The Mariners 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 Grands Voyages and Petits Voyages.

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.

Click here to see maps published by de Bry.

List of publications

The Grands Voyages

1. Part I (Latin) ADMIRANDA NARRATIO FIDA TAMEN, DE COMMODIS …
2. Part I (German) WVNDERBARLICHE, DOCH WARHAFFTIG ERKLÄRUNG …
3. Part I (English) A  briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia …
4. Part I (French) MERVEILLEVX ET ESTRANGE RAPPORT, TOVTESFOIS FIDELE …
5. Part II (Latin) BREVIS NARRATIO EORVM QUĆ IN FLORIDA AMERICĆ PROVICIA…
6. Part II (German) DER ANDER THEYL, DER NEWLICH ERFVNDENEN LANDTSCHAFT …
7. Part III (Latin) AMERICĆ TERTIA PARS Memorabile provincić Brasilić Historiam
8. Part III (German) DRITTE BVCH AMERICĆ, DARINN, BRASILIA…
9. Part IV (Latin) AMERICAE PARS QVARTA. Sive, Insignis & Admiranda Historia …
10. Part IV (German) DAS VIERDTE BVCH VON DER NEVWEN WELT …
11. Part V (Latin) AMERICĆ PARS QVINTA Nobilis & admiratione plena …
12. Part V (German) AMERICĆ DAS FÜNFFTE BVCH …
13. Part VI (Latin) AMERICAE PARS SEXTA SIVE HISTORIĆ …
14. Part VI (German) DAS SECHSTE THEIL DER NEVWEN WELT …
15. Part VII (Latin) Americae Pars VII. VERA ET IVCVNDA DESCRIPTIO PRĆCIPVARVM …
16. Part VII (German) DAS VII. THEIL AMERICA …
17. Part VIII (Latin) AMERICĆ PARS VIII. Continens PRIMO, DESCRIPTIONEM …
18. Part VIII (German) AMERICĆ ACHTER THEIL …
19. Part IX (Latin) AMERICĆ Nona & postrema Pars. QVA DE RATIONE ELEMENTORUM …
20. Part IX (German) NEVNDTER VND LETZTER THEIL AMERICĆ …
21. Part X (Latin) AMERICĆ PARS DECIMA: Qua continentur …
22. Part X (German) ZEHENDER THEIL AMERICĆ …
23. Part XI (Latin) AMERICĆ PARS UNDECIMA: Sev DESCRIPTIO ADMIRANDI ….
24. Part XI (German) HISTORISCHE BESCHREIBVUG, DER WVNDERBARLICHEN REYSE …
25. Part XII (Latin) NOVI ORBIS PARS DVODECIMA. Sive DESCRIPTIO INDIĆ …
26. Part XII (German) ZWÖLFFTER THEIL DER NEWEN  WELT …
27. Part XIII (Latin) DECIMA TERTIA PARS HISTORIĆ AMERICANĆ …
28. Part XIII (German) DREYZEHENDER THEIL AMERICĆ …
29. Part XIV German) VIERZEHENDER THEIL AMERICANISCHER HISTORIEN …
30. Elenchus (Latin) HISTORIA AMERICĆ SIVE NOVI ORBIS …

 The Petits Voyages

31. Part I (Latin) VERA DESCRIPTIO REGNI AFRICANI, QVOD TAM AB INCOLIS …
32. Part I (German) WARHAFFTE VND EIGENTLICHE BESCHREIBVNG DESZ …
33. Part I Appendix (Latin) APPENDIX REGNI CONGO
34. Part I Appendix (German) ANHANG DER BESCHREIBVNG DESZ KÖNIGREISCHS …
35. Part II (Latin) II PARS INDIĆ ORIENTALIS IN QVA JOHAN. HVGONIS LINTSCOTANI …
36. Part II (German) ANDER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
37. Part III (Latin) TERTIA PARS INDIĆ ORIENTALIS: Qua continentur …
38. Part III (German) DRITTER THEIL INDIĆ ORIENTALIS …
39. Part IV (Latin) PARS QVARTA INDIĆ ORIENTALIS: QVA PRIMA …
40. Part IV (German)  VIERDER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
41. Part V (Latin) QVINTA PARS INDIĆ ORIENTALIS: Quâ continetur …
42. Part V (German) FÜNFFTER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
43. Part VI (Latin) INDIĆ ORIENTALIS PARS VI. VERAM ET HISTORICAM …
44. Part VI (German) SECHSTER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
45. Part VII (Latin) INDIĆ ORIENTALIS PARS SEPTIMA; Nauigationes duas, …
46. Part VII (German) SIEBENDER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
47. Part VIII (Latin) INDIĆ ORIENTALIS PARS OCTAVA: NAVIGATIONES QVINQVE, …
48. Part VIII (German) ACHTER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
49. Part IX (Latin) INDIĆ ORIENTALIS PARS IX. HISTORICUM DESCRIPTIONEM …
50. Part IX (German) NEVNDTER THEIL ORIENTALISCHER INDIEN …
51. Part X (Latin) INDIĆ ORIENTALIS PARS X. Qua continetur, HISTORICA …
52. Part X (German) ZEHENDER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
53. Part XI Latin) INDIĆ ORIENTALIS PARS UNDECIMA, quâ continetur …
54. Part XI (German) EILFFTER THEIL DER ORIENTALISCHEN INDIEN …
55. Part XII (Latin) HISTORIARVM ORIENTALIS INDIĆ Tomus XII. …
56. Part XII (German) DER ZWÖLFFTE THEIL DER OREINTALISCHEN INDIEN …
57. Part XIII (German) DER DREYZEHENDE THEIL DER OREINTALISCHEN INDIEN … 

Note: In the following list, the Grands Voyages are suffixed (g), the Petits Voyages (p); NM = National Maritime Museum Library, London (the shelf mark for the de Bry collection here is: 912.4 214/162: 094); Ch. = Church (see footnote 22 below); BL = British Library, London; JCB = John Carter Brown Library, RI; Lx. = Lenox Library; Fkt. = Frankfurt; Opp. = Oppenheim.

1590        Part I(g)  Fkt. (Latin) first edition, issue & state [NM(E7817)]

                Part I(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [NM(E7934)]

                Part I(g) Fkt. (English) sole edition [BL(G6837)]

                Part I(g) Fkt. (French) sole edition [BL(G6836)]

1590+     Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition & issue, second state [NM(E7818)]

   Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition & issue, third state [NM(E7819)]

   Part I(g) Fkt.(Latin) first edition & issue, fourth state [NM(E7820)]

   Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition & issue, 4^th state 1^st variant NM(E7821)]

   Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition and issue, fifth state [NM(E7822)]

   Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, second issue [NM(E7823)]

1591       Part II(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition [Ch. 145]

   Part II(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 179]

1592       Part III(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition & issue [Ch. 148]

1593       Part III(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 181]

1594       Part IV(g) Fkt. (Latin) fist edition & issue [Ch. 153]

   Part IV(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 183]

   Part IV(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, second issue [Ch. 154]

   Part IV(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [Ch. 155]

1595      Part V(g) Fkt.(Latin) first edition and issue [Ch. 156]

  Part V(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, second issue

  Part V(g) Fkt.(German) first edition [Ch. 186]

1596      Part VI(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition [Ch.158]   

1597      Part I(p) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 226]

  Part VI(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch.188]

  Part VII(g) Fkt. (German) first edition  [Ch. 191]

c1597    Part III(g) Fkt.(Latin) first edition, second issue [Ch. 149]

1598      Part I(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition {JCB]

  Part I(g) Fkt. (German) second edition [NM(E7935)]

  Part II(p) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 228]

1599      Part II(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition [Ch. 207]

              Part III(p) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 230]

  Part VII(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition [Ch. 161]

  Part VIII(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition & issue [Ch. 163]

  Part VIII(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, second issue [Ch. 164]

  Part VIII(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, third issue [Ch. 165]

  Part VIII(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 194]

1600      Part I(g) Fkt. (German) second edition [JCB]

              Part IV(p) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 232]         

1601      Part II(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, first issue [Ch. 208]

  Part II(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, second issue [Ch. 209]

  Part III(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, third issue [Ch. 210]

  Part IV(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole (?) edition [Ch. 211]

  Part IV(p) Fkt. (Latin) second (?) edition [JCB]

  Part V(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole (?) edition, first issue [Ch. 212]

  Part V(p) Fkt. (Latin) second (?) edition [JCB]

  Part V(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, second issue [Lx.]

  Part V(p) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 234]

  Part IX(g) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 195]

1602      Part IX(g) Fkt. (Latin) first edition [Ch. 168]

1603      Part II(g) Fkt. (German) second edition [Ch: 180]

              Part VI(p) Fkt. (German) first edition [Ch. 236]

1604      Part VI(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 213]

              Part VI(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 214]

              Part VI(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, third issue [Ch. 215]

1605      Part III(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, first issue [Ch. 150]

  Part III(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition & issue [Ch. 151]

  Part VII(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 237]

  Part VII(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 238]

1606     Part VII(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 216]

 Part VII(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 217]

 Part VIII(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 239]

1606-12 Part III(g) Fkt. (German) second edition [Ch. 182]

1607     Part VIII(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 218]

 Part VIII(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 219]

1607?   Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) transition: first to second edition [NM(E7824)]

             Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) transition edition, first variant [NM(E7825)]

c1608   Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, first issue, early state [NM(E7826)]

 Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, first issue, late state [NM(E7827)]

             Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, first issue, usual state [NM(E7828)]

            Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, second issue [Ch. 143]

            Part I(g) Fkt (Latin) second edition, third issue [Ch. 144]

1609    Part I(p) Fkt. (German) second edition [Ch. 227]

 Part II(g) Frankfurt (Latin) second edition [Ch. 146]

1612    Part IX(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, first issue [Ch. 220]

 Part IX(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition, second issue [Ch. 221]

 Part IX(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 240]

 Part IX(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 241]

1613    Part II(p) Fkt. (German) second edition [Ch. 229]

 Part IV(g) Frankfurt (German) second edition, first issue [Ch. 184]

            Part IV(g) Fkt. (German) second edition  & issue [Ch. 185]

            Part V(g) Fkt.(German) second edition [Ch.187]

            Part X(p) Fkt. (Latin) first edition [Ch. 222]

            Part X(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 242]

1616    Part III(p) Opp. (German)  second edition [Ch. 231]

1617    Part VI (g) Opp. (Latin) second edition, first issue [Ch. 159]

            Part VI (g) Opp. (Latin) second edition and issue [Ch. 160]

            Part IV(p) Opp. (German) second edition [Ch. 233]

            Part VII(g) Opp. (German) third edition, first issue [Ch. 192]

            Part VII(g) Opp. (German) third edition, second issue [Ch. 193]

c1617  Part V(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [Ch. 157]

1618    Part X(g) Opp. (German) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 196]

            Part X(g) Opp. (German) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 197]

            Part XI(p) Opp. (German) sole edition [Ch. 243]

1619    Part VI(g) Opp. (German) second edition, first issue [Ch. 189]

            Part VI(g) Opp. (German) second edition, second issue [Ch. 190]

            Part X(g) Opp. (Latin) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 170]

            Part X(g) Opp. (Latin) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 171]

            Part XI(g) Opp. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 172]

            Part XI (g)  Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 198]

            Part XI(p) Opp. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 223]

1620    Part I(g) Opp. (German) third edition [NM(E7936)]

            Part I(g) Opp. (German) third edition, third variant [NM(E7937)]

1623    Part V(p) Fkt. (German) second edition [Ch. 235]

            Part XII(g) Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 199]

1624    Part VIII(g) Fkt. (German) second edition [Lx.]

            Part XII(g) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 173]

            Part I(p) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [Ch. 206]

1625    Appendix to Part I(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 225]

            Appendix to Part I(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 246]

            Part VII(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition  [Ch. 162]

            Part VIII(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, first issue [Ch. 166]

            Part VIII(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition, second issue [Ch. 167]

1627    Part XIII(g) Fkt. (German) sole edition, first issue [Ch. 201]

1628    Part II(p) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [Lx.] & [JCB]

            Part XII(p) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 224]

            Part XII(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 244]

            Part XIII(g) Fkt. (German) sole edition, second issue [Ch. 200]

            Part XIII(p) Fkt. (German) sole edition [Ch. 245]

1629    Part III(p) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [Lx.]

1630    Part III(g) Fkt. (Latin) third edition [Ch. 152]

            Part VI(p) Fkt. Second edition [Lx.]

            Part XIV(g) Hanau (German) sole edition [Ch. 202]

1632    Part IX(p) (Latin) second edition [JCB]

1633    Part IX(g) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [Ch. 169]

            Part X(p) Fkt. (Latin) second edition [JCB]

1633?  Part IX(g) Fkt (German) second edition [JCB]            

1634    Part I(g) Fkt. (Latin) third edition, first issue and state? [NM(E7830)]

            Part II(g) Fkt. (Latin) third edition [Ch. 147]

            Part XIII(g) Fkt. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 174]

            Elenchus: Fkt. (Latin) sole edition [Ch. 175]

1634?  Part I(g) Fkt.(Latin) third edition, first issue, state & variant [NM(E7831)]

1644    Part IV(g) Fkt. (Latin) third edition [JCB] 

The difficulties intrinsic to the exercise of identifying the various editions, issues, states and variances of de Bry are so considerable that they may never allow the final word to be written on the subject.