Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598. Occidentalis Americae partis - 1594

[Frankfurt] : De Bry, 1594. 1 map ; sheet 33.5 x 44 cm. Often called "The Benzoni map." From part IV of De Bry's Grand Voyages: Americae pars Quarta : Sive, insignis & admiranda historia de reperta primum Occidentali India a Christophoro Columbo. Shows Florida, the Caribbean area, and parts of Central and South America. Parts IV, V, and VI of the Grand Voyages reprint, with illustrations, Girolamo Benzoni's Historia del Mondo Nuovo (Venice, 1565). "The Milanese Benzoni spent 15 years exploring the Caribbean and Central America, and then returned to Europe with a favorable impression of the indigenous peoples but a decidedly negative opinion of the Spanish. Due to its grim, detailed account of the brutal treatment of African slaves and American Indians by the conquestidores, 'the Historia is considered one of the foundation stones of the Black Legend of Spanish cruelty to the Indian.' --First Images of America (I 108). Benzoni's anti-Spanish sentiment did not deter his readers: 'his book, quaintly illustrated with woodcuts, proved deservedly popular. ... it went through many editions, the most celebrated of which formed Parts Four, Five and Six of de Bry's Grands Voyages.' --Penrose, Travel and Discovery in the Renaissance p. 199. ... Latin and German editions of Part IV appeared in 1594, based on the translations of the Historia made by Urbain Chauveton (Geneva, 1578)." -- www.martayanlan.com. 1996-916-106