Antique Print of inhabitants of Banda Islands by Commelin (1646)

Description: Plate 18: 'Afteeckeninge van de inwoonders van Banda soo sy ter oorlogh gaen.' (Depiction of the inhabitants of Banda Islands, Indonesia and how they go to war.) Rare.

This attrative plate originates from: 'Title: Waerachtigh verhael van de Schipvaerd op Oost-Indien Ghedaen by de acht Schepen in den jare 1598. van Amsterdam uyt-gezeylt, onder 't beleyd van den Admirael Jacob Cornelissoon van Neck, ende Vice-Admirael Wybrand van Warwijck..', which was part of the monumental work by Isaac Commelin (1598-1676) on VOC voyages: 'Begin ende voortgangh van de Vereenighde Nederlantsche Geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Companie....', published by Joannes Janssonius, Amsterdam, 1646. Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck (1564-1638) was a Dutch naval officer and explorer, who led the second Dutch expedition to Indonesia (1598-99). The purpose of the expedition was to bring back spices, and was a huge success. Van Neck returned to Indonesia once more, but on that journey lost three fingers during a battle with a Spanish-Portuguese fleet. This prompted him to retire from exploration and travel. He later became mayor of Amsterdam, alderman and member of two admiralty colleges. (Ref: *Tiele 81; *Landwehr, VOC, 250.)

Artists and Engravers: Casparus Commelin (1636-1693), publisher and bookseller in Amsterdam. Engraver/etcher unknown.