The New World

Front cover, Description of the New World

Front cover of the book.

Title Page, Descrtion of the new World

De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld: of beschryving van AMERICA en ’t ZUID-LAND [more...]

Title page detail: facing the gorgon

In this engraving from the title page, a two-faced woman uses a mirror to look safely at the medusa in the border of the picture. She is Prudence, trampling on Envy, a man with [...]Invidiæ Prudentia Victrix is Latin for, Prudence defeats envy, or, prudence is the victress of envy. [more...]

Heraldic chapter head

This woodcut was at the start of a chapter. It features two mermen, I think ,holding a shield bearing an armorial crest.

Decorative initial (drop cap) D

A decorative letter “D” used as an initial capital (a drop capital, or drop cap) in this Dutch book from 1671.

Map of the Americas

Novissima et Accuratissima Totius Americæ Descriptio per Gerardum a Schagen. [more...]

Initial letter D from first page of text

Capital D, a decorative initial “D” used as a drop cap for the first paragraph of the text.

First Nations Chocolatiers

Some naked and almost-naked people making chocolate. There are llamas in the background, and cocoa-trees e.g. on the right. [more...]

Llamas in Peru

Llamas are being used by natives clad in loin cloths or breech-cloths, as mounts and with panniers over their backs. In the background, naked men with bow and arrow are hunting llama on the mountains. [more...]

Christofel Cololus [Christopher Columbus]

Christopher Columbus, of Christofer, or Christofel Colonus as written here, was responsible for bringing many diseases to Turtle Island, including Catholicism and rampant individualism, corporate greed and measles, in a selfish pursuit of personal riches and fame He is famous in some parts of the world for “discovering” America, although since it [...] [more...]