Adriaen Collaert (ca. 1560 - 1618) after Flemish Artist  Johannes Stradanus (1523-1605)

Old Master Print Publisher Philip Galle (1537-1612)

 Date: ca. 1598, Antwerp

 Size: 8.25 x 11.1 in (20.95 x 28.19 cm)

 Condition: Very good, trimmed to image. Minor marks and a few short tears and abrasions to top margins repaired with archival tissue and paper.

 Description:

This copper engraving on laid paper was engraved by the celebrated Flemish engraver Adriaen Collaert (ca. 1560 - 1618), drawn and designed by Flemish artist Johannes Stradanus (1523-1605), and published by the renowned Old Master Print Publisher Philip Galle in Antwerp ca. 1598.

 The detailed and fascinating engraving illustrates the distinguished Italian merchant and explorer Amerigo Vespucci on his ship. It is the third of four plates from the first edition of Americae Retectio (The Discovery of America) rare continental picture atlas created to commemorate the successive discoveries of America by Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci and Ferdinand Magellan in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

 This historic engraving, also exhibits two lines of Latin text at foot that cites the following:

 “Americus Vespuccius Florentinus portentosa navigatione ad Occasum atque ad Austrum duas Orbis terrarum partes, nostris oris quas incolimus maiores, et nullis antea nobis notas saeculis, aperuit, quarum alteram de suo nomine Americam mortalium consensus nominavit. An. Sal. M. IIID”

“Amerigo Vespucci of Florence by a portentous voyage to the west and south opened up two parts of the globe, larger than the portion we inhabit, and not known to any before us, the second of which by the common consent of mankind had been called America after his name”

 This print commemorates the historic discoveries and explorations that took place in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It is a fascinating illustration of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci that memorializes the discoveries and historic current events of the time.