Théodore de Bry (1528 - March 27, 1598) was an important publisher active in the mid to late 16th century. De Bry was born in 1528 in Liege, then a Prince-Bishopric and thus independent of neighboring nations. The De Bry family were accomplished jewelers and copperplate engravers and, following the family tradition, Theodore apprenticed in these fields under his grandfather Thiry de Bry senior (? - 1528), and later under his father, Thiry de Bry junior (1495 - 1590). To avoid growing religious strife in the region Théodore de Bry left Liege for the more tolerant Strasburg. Shortly afterwards, in 1577, he moved again to Antwerp and, in 1580 to London, where he became well known for his engraving skills. It was either in Antwerp or in London that De Bry befriended the English publisher and editor of traveler's tales Richard Hakluyt. Inspired by Hakluyt's work, De Bry began to collect travelers' tales, particularly of voyages to New World. His most prominent acquisition was most likely the letters and papers of the French painter and mapmaker Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues discussing a disastrous attempt by French Huguenots to colonize parts of Florida. Around, 1588 De Bry moved to Frankfurt where he began his own publishing firm. Among De Bry's earliest and most prominent publications are his Grands Voyages, a multivolume compilation of travelers' tales that included the work of Le Moyne as well as some of the earliest published depictions of the North American mainland. The firm also published various other works including an important account of early English attempts to colonize Virginia with illustrations by John White. De Bry died in Frankfurt on March 27, 1598, having never left the shores of Europe, though his name was associated throughout Europe with tales of travel and adventure. Théodore de Bry was succeeded by his son Jean-Théodore (1560 - 1623) who continued the publishing firm until his own death in 1623. More by this mapmaker...

Willem Lodewijcksz (fl. 1595 - 1598) was a Dutch mariner who accompanied Cornelis de Houtmann on his 1595-1597 voyage to southeast Asia. Upon his return, he sought out Cornelis Claesz to publish his log book in 1598 as Historie van Indien, accompanying this work with a chart detailing the islands de Houtmann visited on the journey. The map was, alas, suppressed: Dutch authorities recognized the advantage the new knowledge afforded, and forbade its publication in the book. A few examples of the Claesz were published separately, and that chart - the first detailed map of the region - proved sufficiently useful that there have been examples found annotated with navigational directions, indicating that they were actually used at sea.

In stark contrast with the importance of his book and chart, the man Lodewijcksz is unknown in every other aspect of his life. His birth, death, family, education and career following his return to the Netherlands are utterly unknown. Learn More...