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The Marks of Sundry of the Chief Men of Virginia

About this illustration

Creator
Theodor de Bry
Date created
1585–1586
License
This work is believed to be in the public domain. Users are advised to make their own copyright assessment and to understand their rights to fair use.
Source
Original image housed by Documenting the American South / UNC Libraries

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  • See our collection of articles on visual literacy for ideas on using photographs meaningfully in the classroom.
Black and white drawing of an American Indian man depicted from the back. His left shoulder bears a mark in paint or tattoo. Several larger patterns appear in the spaces to the left and right of him.

Size: 650×485

“The Marckes of Sundrye of the Cheif Mene of Virginia.” Theodor de Bry’s engraving of the “marks” worn by various American Indian men, published in Thomas Hariot’s 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. In the center of the image, a man is depicted from the back, standing, holding a tall bow in his left hand and two arrows in his right. He wears a container of arrows that hangs from his waist. On his left shoulder is a tattoo, or a mark made in paint. Various other marks appear in the spaces to the left and right of the man.

The text accompanying the image reads:

The inhabitants of all the country for the most part have marks raised on their backs, whereby it may be known what Prince’s subjects they be, or of what place they have their original. For which cause we have set down those marks in this figure, and have annexed the names of the places, that they might more easily be discerned. Which industry has God imbued them withal although they be very simple, and rude. And to confess a truth, I cannot remember that ever I saw a better or quieter people than they.

The mark which is expressed by A. belongs to Wingino, the chief lord of Roanoke.

That which has B. is the mark of Wingino, his sister’s husband.

Those which be noted with the letters, of C. and D. belong unto diverse chief lords in Secotam.

Those which have the letters E. F. G. are certain chief men of Pomeiooc, and Aquascogoc.

Theodor de Bry was a Flemish-born engraver and publisher who based his illustrations for Hariot’s book on the New World paintings of colonist John White. These depictions of the landscapes and residents of North Carolina provided Europeans with some of their earliest notions of what the North American continent looked like.