Ethnography · 19th century
€ 210
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good for age. Wide margins retained. Light age toning and a few small spots in margin areas only. Strong impression and well-preserved original hand-coloring.
Inhabitants of Unalaska, Alaska – Antique Hand-Colored Ethnographic Print c.1805
This finely hand-colored ethnographic print titled “Inwooners van Oonolaska” (“Inhabitants of Unalaska”) depicts Indigenous Unangan (Aleut) people from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It was published in Amsterdam around 1805 as part of the Dutch anthropological series “De Mensch, zoo als hij voorkomt op den bekenden aardbol” (“Humankind as Found on the Known Globe”), written by Martinus Stuart and illustrated by Jaques Kuyper.
The print portrays two figures dressed in traditional attire suited to the harsh North Pacific climate, including fur garments and a distinctive bentwood hunting hat decorated with sea lion whiskers — an iconic element of Aleut maritime culture. One holds a carved object, perhaps a tool or ceremonial item, while the other stands with a paddle beside a kayak-like vessel. The mountainous coastal landscape reinforces the strong connection to the sea and subsistence traditions.
Stuart & Kuyper’s series is one of the earliest Dutch projects to document global Indigenous cultures through travel accounts and early anthropological sources. While reflective of a European interpretation, these plates today hold significant historical value as early visual records of traditional lifeways prior to major cultural and economic change in the region.
This compelling plate will appeal to collectors of Arctic exploration history, Indigenous Alaska art, and ethnographic works. It also makes a strong framed display due to its fine detail and appealing palette.
Condition:
Good for age. Wide margins retained. Light age toning and a few small spots in margin areas only. Strong impression and well-preserved original hand-coloring.
Framing Tips:
A cool gray or ivory museum mat with a dark wood or black frame will enhance the icy tones. Float mounting recommended to reveal the full sheet and plate mark.
Technique: Hand-colored copper engraving
Maker: Jaques Kuyper (del.), engraved by Portman
Publisher: Johannes Allart, Amsterdam, c.1805
Publication: De Mensch, zoo als hij voorkomt op den bekenden aardbol
