Very rare Antique Print-IDOL-GODDESS-IDOLATRY-PRAYER-TARTAR-CHINA-Witsen-1692

Etching / engraving on hand laid paper. on paper.

Size in cm: The overall size is ca. 16.5 x 25 cm. The image size is ca. 15 x 12 cm. Size in inch: The overall size is ca. 6.5 x 9.8 inch. The image size is ca. 5.9 x 4.7 inch.

Antique print, titled: ‘Twee Afgodinne Beelden welke van de Niunchsche Tarters in Sina werden angebeden. Afgodin Quangenposa, 12 vadem hoog Afgodinne Quoungianpusa, 8 vadem hoog.’ – Two goddess idols as venerated by the Tartars in China. From: ‘Noord en Oost Tartarije …’, by Nicolaas Witsen, first published 1692. A very important historic book about Russia. Witsen produced the 1692 / first edition as a private enterprise, which was not for sale. The 1705 edition was the first commercially made, but probably still available only to acquaintances of Witsen and also of the utmost rarity. As a very wealthy member of the Dutch political elite, Witsen could collect an enormous mass of maps, travelogues, manuscripts and objects, and put it to use for this huge effort. Witsen also produced a separate map on six leaves, as a companion to the first edition, and made a second state of this map before 1700. The book was maded during a period of intensive Russian-Dutch collaboration, and Witsen assisted Peter I in many ways during and after the Tsar’s stay in Holland. It still serves as a unique source for the history, languages, geography and ethnography of the Northern parts of the country and further describes parts of Asia, as far as New-Guinea. Ref: Tiele, 1224. Landwehr, VOC, 259. Very rare. Artists and Engravers: Made by an anonymous engraver after ‘Nicolaas Witsen’. Nicolaas or Nicolaes Witsen (1641-1717) was a Dutch statesman who was mayor of Amsterdam thirteen times, between 1682-1706. In 1693 he became administrator of the VOC. In 1689 he was extraordinary-ambassador to the English court, and became Fellow of the Royal Society. In his free time he was cartographer, maritime writer, and an authority on shipbuilding. His books on the subject are important sources on Dutch shipbuilding in the 17th century. Furthermore, he was an expert on Russian affairs. He was the first to describe Siberia, Far East and Central Asia.

Condition: Very good, given age. Two small stains in the image (ink blots from printing?). General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: VERY RARE ANTIQUE PRINT-IDOL-GODDESS-IDOLATRY-PRAYER-TARTAR-CHINA-WITSEN

PCOX-C6-03