Canal Aux Cygnes Noirs dans l'Isle Rottenest. Swarte Swaane Drift oo't Eiland Rottenest.
Amsterdam: 1747. One of the earliest depictions of Western Australia by a European, after Van Keulen's well-known view "Swartte Swaane drift opo het Eyland Rottenest" published in Francois Valentyn's "Oud en nieuw Oost-Indien" in 1724-6. This copper engraving is after a drawing by Jacobus van der Schley, published somewhat later in 1747 in "Historische beschrijvingen der Reizen" 1747. The print depicts two sailing ships & two long boats preparing to row up the Swan River, and the island discovered by the skipper de Vlamingh of the Dutch East India Company in 1696, and named Rat's Nest (Rottnest). With the S shaped river in the distance dotted with black swans. Copper engraving, 5 1/2 x 8" with large margins. See Landwehr, 266-7. Fine condition. Very good condition. Item #17979
Price: $2,400.00