The Boazio maps are historically important for understanding Sir Francis Drake's (1540?-1598) activities. In 1585 Drake's fleet of twenty-two ships sailed from England to Ribeira Grande in the Cape Verde Islands, off the coast of West Africa. The voyage map shows Europe, western Africa, northern South America, and eastern North America, and the four bird's-eye views are the first printed views of the cities of Santiago, in the Cape Verde Islands, Santo Domingo, Cartagena, and St. Augustine, Florida. The views include detailed graphic accounts of the English attacks on the Spanish settlements and fascinating details--animals, flags, crests, and compasses--are used to decorate the cartography.

Italian artist Baptista Boazio created these engravings to accompany A Summarie and True Discourse of Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage, published in London by Biggs and Croftes in 1588-1589.

Item sold is a digital reproduction

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Product #: kislak0025E.1