Matthaeus Merian, “Patagonian Succarath & Mythic Beasts”, 1655

Matthaeus Merian (also known as Matthäus Merian I) (1593–1650), or possibly Theodoor de Bry (aka Théodore de Bry, Dietrich de Bry, and Dirk de Bry) (1528–1598)

“Patagonian Succarath & Mythic Beasts”, 1655

Depicted Animals— based on early Spanish colonial descriptions of real South American wildlife with legendary creatures invented or misunderstood by early European mapmakers:

• The Succarath / Su (lower-left): a legendary monster of Patagonia described as having a human-like face, wolfish body, backwards-curving horns, and a massive, palm-like tail. Legend held that it carried its young on its back and would destroy them if hunted rather than let them be captured.
• The Manticore-like Beast / Patagonian Lioness (lower-right): A large, bear-headed predator with humanised facial features shown nursing two cubs, blending Renaissance bestiary style with early explorer descriptions of South American pumas.
• The Patagonian Unicorn (in the distance at upper-right): A slender, long-necked beast with a single spiralling horn on its head. It is seen standing on the hill below the smoking volcano.
• The Giant Crocodile / Caiman (upper-centre): A massive, armour-skinned crocodilian.
• The Jaguar / Ocelot (centre-right): Two predatory wild cats representing South America's native felines, depicted with classic heraldic, lion-like features popular in 17th-century European art.
• The Armadillo (below and closest to the crocodile): A banded armadillo foraging.
• The Anteater / Coati (at centre below the armadillo and behind the lizards): A long-nosed mammal
• Large Ground Iguana / Lizard (lower-centre): A spiked reptile resting near a twisted snake.
• The Giant Constrictor Snakes (foreground): Interlocking, coiled serpents representing the terrifyingly large snakes described by early explorers in the tropical swamps.

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on fine laid paper with full margins and German letterpress text on both recto and verso. This original book-leaf was published in Frankfurt am Main in 1655 by the Merian heirs, as part of Johann Ludwig Gottfried’s “Newe Welt und Americanische Historien.” The featured etching appears on page 614. See: https://archive.org/details/neweweltvndameri00gott/page/614/mode/2up.

The impression is strong, showing minimal signs of wear to the printing plate, indicative of an early impression. Aside from minor age-toning and a few surface marks, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 30.7 x 19.3 cm
• Platemark: 15.5 x 18 cm
• Image borderline: 15 x 17.3 cm

Letterpress text (recto):

• Above image: (left) “614”; (centre) “West Indianischer Historien” (Translation: “West Indian histories”)
• Main text paragraph directly below image begins: “In der Insul ein grob steinern Bild gefunden / wie ein Weib gestaltet / ...” (Translation: “On the island a large stone image [statue] was found, shaped like a woman...”)

Summary of Topics Covered in the Text:

• Indigenous Idols & Spanish Conquest: Discusses the discovery of a large stone statue of a woman on an island. It notes that the indigenous people made offerings to it, but when the Spanish overthrew it without facing divine retribution, the locals realised they had been deceived by a false idol.
• Volcanic Activity in El Salvador: Details a massive, active volcano in the province of San Salvador with a crater deep enough to walk down into, warning of deadly, fainting-inducing sulphur smoke venting from lime-kiln-like fissures.
• The Destruction of Nicaragua: Mentions a devastating volcanic eruption in Nicaragua that completely collapsed a mountainside, burying and destroying the homes of the native inhabitants in the valley below.
• Natural Wonders & Unique Waters: Chronicles unusual geological anomalies, including a toxic night-flowing stream near the village of Nixapa, a river in Choluteca that vanishes entirely by afternoon, and a pair of springs in Mimilla where one runs boiling hot and the other ice cold.
• The Secret to Native Ink: Describes the volcano of Nicaragua near the capital of Leon, noting that mixing its volcanic earth with the juice of a local fruit called Nacolo produces an exceptionally high-quality black writing ink.

Price & Shipping:

AU$279 (approximately US$193.71 / €169.32 / £145.10), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this historically significant 17th-century leaf capturing European imagination of South American animals and landscapes—please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold 

Matthaeus Merian, “The Dutch Discovery of Fly Island,” c. 1655

Matthaeus Merian (also known as Matthäus Merian I) (1593–1650), or possibly Theodoor de Bry (aka Théodore de Bry, Dietrich de Bry, and Dirk de Bry) (1528–1598)

“The Dutch Discovery of Fly Island,” c. 1655— Depicting Schouten and Le Maire's encounter with Tuamotu Islanders (Pa'umotu) and their sailing proa, amidst a plague of insects (flies/mosquitoes) at Ahe Atoll, 1616. This plate is a landmark illustration of early 17th-century Pacific exploration and the search for Terra Australis Incognita.

The flags flying on the two ships (“Eendracht” and “Hoorn”) are three-band horizontally striped banners, indicating Dutch nationality. Notably, they are not part of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which would display the VOC monogram. This detail is significant: flying the Dutch national colours—either the Prinsenvlag (Orange-White-Blue) or the Statenvlag (Red-White-Blue)—underscores a strategic aim of the expedition: to evade trade restrictions imposed by the VOC in the Spice Islands by charting a western route across the Pacific. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willem_Schouten.

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on fine laid paper with full margins and German letterpress text on both recto and verso. This original book-leaf was published in Frankfurt am Main in 1655 by the Merian heirs, as part of Johann Ludwig Gottfried’s “Newe Welt und Americanische Historien.” The featured etching appears on page 497. See: https://archive.org/details/neweweltvndameri00gott/page/496/mode/2up.

The impression is strong and well-printed. Aside from minor age-toning and a few surface marks, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions: 

• Sheet: 30.7 x 19.3 cm
• Platemark: 17.2 x 18.7 cm
• Image borderline: 16.7 x 18.6 cm

Plate Lettering:

• Upper left: “Vligen Insel” 

Price & Shipping:

AU$258 (approximately US$180.96 / €156.43/ £135.75), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this historically significant leaf documenting a 1616 event, when the Dutch ship “Eendracht” intercepted a double-hulled Polynesian canoe—some natives attempting to evade capture by swimming away, while others were taken onboard—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold 

Matthaeus Merian, “The Plea for Mercy”, 1655

Matthaeus Merian (also known as Matthäus Merian I) (1593–1650), or possibly Theodoor de Bry (aka Théodore de Bry, Dietrich de Bry, and Dirk de Bry) (1528–1598)

“The Plea for Mercy”—The Tupinambá Discussing Clemency for Hans Staden, 1655

This scene depicts a pivotal moment from the narrative of Hans Staden, a Protestant German soldier held captive by the Tupinambá, an indigenous people of Brazil, for nine months in the mid-16th century. 

The figure at upper centre, addressing the gathering of Tupinambá, is likely the tribe’s leader. The bearded figure on the right, crossing his arms in supplication, is possibly Hans Staden himself—who, having become acculturated to Tupinambá customs, is shown in the nude. From my reading of the scene, the assembly is deliberating on granting Staden clemency, following a testimony from a character called “the Frenchman,” who previously claimed Staden was a Portuguese enemy of the Tupinambá. However, the latest account suggests that the Frenchman was mistaken—Staden was actually a “blood-friend” of the French, and a German (Allemanten), and therefore deserving of mercy. Staden appears to second this plea, proposing his innocence and loyalty. (Please note: I acknowledge possible inaccuracies in this interpretation of the scene.)

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on fine laid paper with full margins and German letterpress text on both recto and verso. This original book-leaf was published in Frankfurt am Main in 1655 by the Merian heirs, as part of Johann Ludwig Gottfried’s “Newe Welt und Americanische Historien.” The featured etching appears on page 309. See: https://archive.org/details/neweweltvndameri00gott/page/308/mode/2up.

The impression is strong and well-printed, showing no signs of wear to the printing plate. Aside from minor age-toning, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 30.6 x 19.3 cm
• Platemark: 15.2 x 18.5 cm
• Image borderline: 14.6 x 17.7 cm

Price & Shipping:

AU$251 (approximately US$178.81 / €151.40 / £132.73), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this historically significant leaf documenting interactions between Native Americans and Europeans, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

Matthaeus Merian, “Natives Roasting ‘Dragons’” & “Ambush by Native Women”, 1655

Matthaeus Merian (also known as Matthäus Merian I) (1593–1650), or possibly Theodoor de Bry (aka Théodore de Bry, Dietrich de Bry, and Dirk de Bry) (1528–1598)

Recto (page 219): “Ambush by Native Women”, 1655
The text describes a Spanish encounter with the local inhabitants in their village: “… they came across a place which, like Venice [hence the name Venezuela], was built on the water and wooden piles, it had about twenty dwellings, like the bells of a fortress. From which bridges went so that they could come together in and around. … twelve canoes made from whole trees came towards them [the Spanish] … and brought 16 maidens with them … pretending to be their best friends; a great crowd also swam from their houses to the ships, from which they could still not draw any evil suspicion. …the others also moved further away from the ships, and began to shoot violently at the Spaniards with their bows. … others, who had swum from their houses to the ships, carried their spears hidden under the water, from which their treachery could then be sufficiently inferred.”
The page is titled: “Von Erfindung derselben durch underschiedliche Schiffart” (Of the discovery of the same through different navigation).

Verso (page 220): “Natives Roasting ‘Dragons’”, 1655

For those wondering about the seemingly fantastical depiction of winged-serpents (dragons)—the artist’s creative representations of what we now know are iguanas—bound together in the lower left foreground, the German text explains that the Spaniards investigating the local inhabitants’ culture “found many live snakes … tied at the feet with ropes and their mouths bound with cords, so that they could not harm people, just as one is accustomed to muzzle bears, dogs, horses, and other wild animals. They looked so frightening that the Spaniards did not want to touch them. They make their bread from fish, which they first boil, then pound, and then dry again over the coals. And this bread is good to eat and tastes good.”
The page is titled: “West Indianischer Historien Ander Theil” (Second Part of the West Indian Histories).

Technical Details & Condition:

Etchings on fine laid paper with full margins and German letterpress text on recto and verso. This original book-leaf was published in Frankfurt am Main in 1655 by the Merian heirs within Johann Ludwig Gottfried’s “Newe Welt und Americanische Historien”. The two featured etchings (recto and verso) appear on pages numbered 219, and 220. See: https://archive.org/details/neweweltvndameri00gott/page/218/mode/2up.

The etchings are strong, well-printed impressions, showing no signs of wear to the printing plate. The sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 30.9 x 19.4 cm

Price & Shipping:

AU$251 (approximately US$175.81 / €147.85 / £128.14), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this historically important and visually compelling sheet of etchings documenting native Americans and Spanish interactions, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold