Kraus Collection of Sir Francis Drake; Grands Voyages

The Library of Congress holds nearly 100 copies of de Bry's Grands Voyages; America. They vary in arrangement, volumes and in some cases language of the edition. For the ease of searching, we are presenting digitized editions of the various works compiled by de Bry from the Kraus collection in a single numbered volume sequence. Copy numbers are used to identify a particular title when the Library of Congress' holdings vary from copy to copy.

The German edition of Grands Voyages is bound in two volumes with numerous engraved maps and plates. Contemporary marginalia in German exists throughout the volumes. The bindings are of blind-tooled pigskin over boards, with the date 1659 and the initials, 'H.V.G.' stamped on the front covers. It should be noted that copies in contemporary binding, as this one, invariably are of differing states and edition, and are plus and/or minus various leaves. The present copy is in an unusually well preserved binding; the impressions of the plates are generally clear and dark.

The Latin edition of Grands Voyages is bound in one volume with numerous engraved maps and plates. Blank lower margin of title cut off. Folio. Contemporary vellum, black line borders, fleurons. Stamped ex libris on titles and last page.