De Bry - ”An Elephant, A Rhinoceros and a Crocodile” - 1601 - Linschoten - India

"An Elephant, A Rhinoceros and a Crocodile"

-Original Copperplate Engraving from 1601

-Johan Theodore De Bry

-Image 14x10cm

-Page 29x19cm

-Good condition

-Modern Colour

-Verso blank

This original engraving comes from part 4 of the De Bry's Petits Voyages. This part described, amongst other travel accounts, Linschoten’s description of the fauna and flora of India and the East. This plate depicts an Elephant, a Rhinoceros, and a Crocodile.

This is Plate 7 from the work. The text reads:

“Although most elephants are found in Africa, there are also many in India too. They are called “Caffres” by the inhabitants and are slaughtered for their trusts, which they sell to the Portuguese. Elephants are also found in Bengal and Burma where there are large numbers of them. The animal, called Rhinoceros is also found near the river Ganges in India, Bengal and Patane. In this river there are numerous crocodiles, which cause the fishermen much trouble”