Theodore de Bry. America Paperback – Illustrated, June 29, 2019

There are other published treatments of Theodore De Bry's America plates, but in lavishness of production, this Michiel van Groesen and Larry Tise compilation surpasses them. All the plates from the first nine volumes (1590-1602) of De Bry's America are illustrated in oversized format (the pages measure 15 1/2" x 11") on lovely paper, most in crisp full color. This enlargement highlights details one might otherwise miss, but at the same time does not convey the exact visual impression of the original plates, where, for example, crosshatching may read as tonal rather than as a the series of intersecting lines visible on an enlargement. Introductory essays by the editors treat the De Bry firm's history and commercial strategy (van Groesen), and, for the first time (to my knowledge) the artistry and varying approaches of the colorists who illuminated some copies (Tise). There is no standard shop color. German examples may have heavy, dense, dark color -- those dour Germans! French examples may have lighter, more luminescent color (p. 32). Readers will have their own preferences: to my eye, the treatment of the smoke and fire in the engraving illustrated on the cover and on p. 47 (Mariners' Museum copy) is flat-out gorgeous, while the same scene in another example of the plate on p. 75 (Brown University copy) comes across as almost garish. This is a book about the copperplate illustrations to De Bry. They are superbly presented. The editors provide a select bibliography, but do not engage directly with earlier work on 16th century map and print coloring. The joy of turning these pages lies in the stunning images.

Theodore de Bry's America was well worth the price. Previously, I had only seen the prints of Florida and Virginia, and didn't realize how much more the work contained. Fantastic, quaint, and violent. It came superbly packaged. It is large and heavy. There are only a few things to fault. The cropped enlargements of some plates work so well that one wishes they had done more of them. Another reviewer noted the dark colors of many of the prints. Reproductions should accurately reflect the original; but, in this case, lightening up America would have improved the images. The Sistine Chapel took on a whole new colorization after it had been cleaned. With America, perhaps the deep blue had darkened with age? Another debatable choice was matte over glossy. Matte is truer to the original, but the publisher, Taschen, has used glossy to good effect with its Atlas Maior and Cities of the World. These are minor concerns. The book is wonderful.

This is a stunning beautiful book of important images for any historian or lover of history. It's a high quality book from the carrying case, to the quality of the paper, the size, and heft, etc. It's truly a must have for anyone interested in the John White watercolors and the DeBry engravings.

Book was too large & over-sized. Makes it clumsy to use. Size makes prints, etc. not crisp or in scale.

Must have for an historian

Beautiful book with exceptional paper and printing. Gorgeous!

Great edition

I'm an artist using this as source material and inspiration. My favorite element of this book is the choice to publish blown-up details of parts of each image - it creates a breathtaking view into the detail. this is a historical and visual treature. My only disappointment in the book is that the color appears over-saturated. I have no idea whether that was the case in the original or whether this is the fault of the printer.