Sea Charts · 18th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
overall with crisp impression. Light age-toning and faint fold lines from original binding or storage. No tears or repairs. Margins intact. Strong contrast on clean laid paper.
Burmese Alphabet – Antique Comparative Chart in Dutch, “Het Birmansche Alphabet genaamd Kagye-Kagué”, c.1800
This elegant and rare antique linguistic chart presents the Burmese alphabet under the title 'Het Birmansche Alphabet, genaamd Kagye-Kagué', printed in Dutch around 1800. Closely related to the French version published in the account of Michael Symes’ 1795 embassy to the Burmese Empire, this edition serves as a fascinating example of early European efforts to transcribe and interpret Southeast Asian languages during the colonial and missionary era.
The chart offers a meticulous comparative study of the Burmese script (also used for liturgical Pali), cross-referenced with Sanskrit equivalents and organized for Dutch readers. It includes:
– Birmansch (Burmese characters)
– Sanscrit (Sanskrit/Devanagari letters)
– Uitspraak (Pronunciation) in Romanized Dutch
– Namen (Names) in Burmese script
– In het Engelsch (In English) providing phonetic English approximations
The bottom section, 'Birmansche Getallen', displays Burmese numerals from 1 to 100,000 in script and Romanized form, offering a practical reference for early linguists, merchants, or missionaries. Below that appears a phrase in 'Het Pali, of Godsdienst Schrift der Birmans' (The Pali or Religious Script of the Burmese), printed in an ornamental Burmese line of text, likely from a canonical or sacred source. A Dutch caption notes: “Een regel van een aaneengehegt schrift in Birmansche letter,” translating roughly to: “A line from a connected script in Burmese letters.”
This chart not only reveals the structure and elegance of the Burmese writing system but also reflects the Enlightenment-era European ambition to classify and understand non-Western languages and cultures systematically. It holds strong appeal for collectors of Southeast Asian history, missionary linguistics, typographic history, and early Orientalist studies.
Condition: Good overall with crisp impression. Light age-toning and faint fold lines from original binding or storage. No tears or repairs. Margins intact. Strong contrast on clean laid paper.
Framing tips: This rare chart would be beautifully displayed in a slim black or gold-leaf frame, with an off-white or ivory mount. Floating the print to show its full margin and plate line enhances its antique character and scholarly appeal.
Technique: Copper engraving
Maker: C. van Baak, Amsterdam, circa 1800
