Views of Africa · 19th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition. This is not a reproduction but an original engraving. Study the image carefully.
The print is an early 19th-century engraving depicting the Khoikhoi people, historically referred to as the Hottentots, which is an outdated term. The Khoikhoi are indigenous inhabitants of the southwestern regions of Africa.
The image is labeled as "HOTTENTOT Men, Women, and Children," suggesting it was meant to illustrate the life and appearance of the Khoikhoi people. It was published in London by C. Cooke for a work titled "Modern & Authentic System of Universal Geography." As for the engraver, it is not specified on the print itself, but it may be identifiable through historical records related to the publication. The title for the print could be "The Khoikhoi of Southwestern Africa" to modernize the terminology and accurately reflect the subject. The year of publication is not given, but since it was intended for a geography system, it could date from the late 18th to early 19th century, a common period for such works.
This is a circa 1801 copperplate engraving from George Alexander Cooke's "Universal Geography" .
The print is part of George Alexander Cooke's comprehensive work "A Modern and Authentic System of Universal Geography." This book was a significant compilation of geographical knowledge during the late 18th century, offering descriptions and accounts of various parts of the world, influenced by the age of exploration. It includes narratives of famed explorers like Captain James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan, detailing their discoveries and journeys that expanded the European understanding of the globe. Cooke's work served as both a chronicle and reference for the territories and cultures encountered by these voyagers.
