Antique Print – TROPICAL FISH-CRAB-LOBSTER-INDONESIA-LVIII-VALENTIJN-ELLIGER – 1724

Copperplate engraving/etching on hand laid (verge) paper.
Sheet size: 20,3 x 32,8 cm. (8 x 12,9 inch). Image size: 16,5 x 26,5 cm. (6,5 x 10,4 inch).

From the monumental work by François Valentyn: “Oud en nieuw Oost-Indiën, vervattende een naaukeurige en uitvoerige verhandelinge van Nederlands mogentheyd in die gewesten”. Dordrecht/Amsterdam: J. van Braam en G. onder de Linden, 1724/1726. (Transl.: Old and new East-Indies, including an accurate and extensive description of Dutch / VOC controlled territories.) We have a list available with Indonesian names of these fish species.

Made by Ottomar Elliger Junior after own design. François Valentijn / Valentyn (1666-1727), was a Dutch minister, naturalist and author. He was send by the VOC as a missionary and mostly worked at Amboina from 1684-1694 and 1705-1713. He traveled extensively in the VOC controlled territories and befriended the German naturalist Georg Eberhard Rumpf (Rumphius). He probably had access to VOC archives and compiled much in this momumental work from others as well. Engraver unknown/to be determined. Ottomar or Ottmar Elliger the Younger (1666–1735), was a Dutch painter from Germany.

Condition: Fair, given age. Slight discoloration of paper. A few small spots. Small hole top image. Minor printer’s crease lower part. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: TROPICAL FISH-CRAB-LOBSTER-INDONESIA-LVIII

PCO-A8-31