Inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, Engraving Published by Thomas Kelly, circa 1825

About this sheet

This engraving shows a family of the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America, and is lettered "Inhabitants of Terra del Fuego." beneath the image, using the older spelling, with the imprint "London Published by Thomas Kelly, 17 Paternoster Row." There is no date and no artist's or engraver's credit.

A woman holding a small child sits in the opening of a dome shaped shelter of leafy branches, beside a fire that blazes at the entrance, while a man kneels opposite and tends the flames with a stick. At the left another man strides along the shore with a long spear over his shoulder and a basket at his side. More arched shelters stand among the trees to the right, a tall tree rises above the hut, and beyond lie the sea, pale cliffs and jagged mountains.

The peoples of the far south were described by many European navigators who sailed through the Strait of Magellan or rounded Cape Horn, including Captain Cook, and their accounts were retold in countless popular collections of voyages and geographies. The islands owe their name, the land of fire, to the fires seen along the shore by Magellan's crew in 1520, and the fire at the center of this scene echoes it.

Thomas Kelly of Paternoster Row was one of the most successful London publishers of books issued in weekly parts, and he illustrated his voyages, histories and geographies with small engraved plates such as this one, which reduced distant scenes to a clear and attractive format for a wide readership. The print is in black only and has never been colored.

This plate will appeal to collectors of the history of exploration, of South America and of early images of indigenous peoples, and it would make an interesting picture for a study or library.

Condition: Good condition for its age. Toning, darker to the edges, a few small spots and a lower margin trimmed close to the publisher's line. Please review the images for further condition details.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.