Sharing Astrolabe Gifts at King George's Harbour, New Holland (Australia), 1836
€ 230
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1836
Sheet size
25.2 × 34.2 cm (9.9 × 13.5 in)
Reference
BG-14025-4
Condition
Marginal toning and light foxing, with minor edge wear. The image area is clear, retaining excellent detail and sharpness. A few wormholes near the border, outside image. Handling wear is minimal, and overall condition is fair to good.
About this sheet
This evocative lithograph, circa 1836, illustrates a fascinating moment of cultural interaction at King George’s Harbour (modern-day Albany, Western Australia) during the voyage of the French corvette Astrolabe. The scene features an Indigenous man enthusiastically displaying items received as gifts from the Astrolabe to a group of his peers. The Indigenous figures, dressed in a mix of traditional attire and European-style shirts, are captured in dynamic poses, their expressions ranging from curiosity to delight as they examine the foreign objects.
On the right, a European sailor, animated and gesturing with enthusiasm, showcases the objects, which include necklaces and trinkets, while other crew members observe the encounter with bemusement. The scene is set in a grassy clearing near a small fire, adding a sense of immediacy and realism to this cross-cultural exchange.
Created by Louis Auguste de Sainson, this lithograph was included in Dumont d'Urville’s narratives and later reproduced in Brodtmann’s *Entdeckungs, Reise der Franzosischen Corvette Astrolabe*. The composition skillfully captures the blend of curiosity, wonder, and human connection that characterized such encounters during the age of exploration.
Condition Report: Marginal toning and light foxing, with minor edge wear. The image area is clear, retaining excellent detail and sharpness. Handling wear is minimal, and overall condition is very good.
