Exotic Knowledge as Commodity: De Bry's Historia Indiae Orientalis

Description

The creation of a common European horizon of knowledge and imagination surrounding Asia and the Americas was greatly influenced by the works of Theodor de Bry and his collaborators. The Frankfurt based printers and publishers compiled, translated and published, elaborated with opulent engravings, major texts of the European expansion. One of their highly successful publishing projects was the Historia Indiae Orientalis, which collects the applied knowledge generated within the context of the lucrative trade with South and Southeast Asia. Especially the inclusion of the famed engravings turned their publications into what has been termed the pre-eminent early modern Europe’s coffee table book and ultimately into an immensely profitable business venture. Editions in Latin as well as different European languages as well as editions varying in opulence made it possible to thoroughly penetrate the market for exotic knowledge while concurrently generating a Europe wide market for their books.

Period	29 Jun 2012
Event title	Specialist Markets in the Early Modern Book World
Event type	Conference
Location	United KingdomShow on map