The settlement of Virginia was of vital strategic importance in the 16th century to both Spanish and English claims of power in North America. Maps such as those of John White and John Smith, which were engraved and published together with narratives promoting the colonization of Virginia and widely copied, formed the basis of English assertions to territorial rights in the region. In addition to providing the first geographic descriptions of the Chesapeake Bay and environs, the maps also expressed the hope of a passage through its waterways to the Pacific Ocean.

Maps of Virginia circulated throughout Europe in a variety of atlases and accounts, beginning in 1590 with the publication of Thomas Hariot's "A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia" by the Flemish engraver Theodor de Bry, (1528-1598). In addition to White's map from the Raleigh expedition of 1585-86, de Bry included engravings of White's paintings of Virginia Indians, among the first documents of indigenous cultures in North America. Published in Frankfurt and distributed in Latin, English, French and German, de Bry's images popularized throughout Europe the efforts of the English in Virginia and were the basis of copies for more than two centuries, during which time they became increasingly fanciful and exotic. In addition, botanical illustrations of plants native to the New World circulated throughout Europe in florilegium such as Basil Besler's monumental Hortus Eysttensis of 1613, created for Prince Bishop of Eichstatt from Germany. The exhibition features objects from the collections of the Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center, University of Richmond Museums, The Library of Virginia, and the Virginia Historical Society .

Organized by the University of Richmond Museums, the exhibition was co-curated by Richard Waller, Executive Director, University Museums, and Anna Kim, MLA'07, graduate student, University of Richmond. The exhibition is made possible in part with funds from the Louis S. Booth Arts Fund, and the opening concert with generous funding from the University's Cultural Affairs Committee.