Description
copper engraving, All original plates of van Noort’s Journal (and thus also the Commelin second state) are engraved with French captions, regardless of the language edition of the book. EXTREMELY RARE – almost impossible to find. The book is rarely offered for sale, but if available, carries a tag of ca. US$ 50,000.
Map/view first published by Cornelis Claesz in Amsterdam in 1602, to accompany Olivier van Noort’s “Beschryvinghe vande voyagie om den geheelen werelt cloot”. Engraved by one of the foremost engravers of the day, Benjamin Wright, here the imprints are in their second state, with plate numbers in the lower corners. from ‘Begin Ende Voortgangh van de …'[V.O.C.], [Beginning and Progress of the Dutch East India Company…] Chapter: Schipvaerd Olivier van Noort… 1598-1601, p. 32 / 33. Extensively illustrated collection of journals by 21 navigators to the East and West Indies. Published by J. Janssonius in Amsterdam, pl. 21. A dramatic and deadly naval battle took place near Fortune Island, SW of Manila, between van Noort and two heavily armed Spanish Galleons commanded by Antonio de Morga, the Spanish Vice Governor of the Philippines in front of Manila Bay on December 14, 1600. Plate shows Manila Bay, the tip of the Manila Castel (A), and Cavite (B), embellished with a monster fish and a giant octopus. The Dutch lost their pinnace ‘Eendragt’, which was taken by the Spanish vice-admiral and towed into Manila harbour; unsurprisingly, considering she had only 25 men to fight against 500 Spaniards and Indios. Captain Lambert Biesmanplus some of his crew of 24 were executed in Manila for piracy, despite the earlier promise of pardon. (Stanley’s abridged translation of Van Noort’s Journal)
Condition
closely cropped left margin.
