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Sharing Astrolabe Gifts at King George's Harbour, New Holland (Australia), 1836
$260
€230 · £195
Original print, not a reproduction.
Ships worldwide from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked. 14-day returns.
- Date
- 1836
- Sheet size
- 9.9 × 13.5 in (25.2 × 34.2 cm)
- 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.
- Collection
- Voyages of discovery
- Era
- 1790 to 1849, Age of sail
- Stock no.
- f_43021382
Title: Sharing Astrolabe Gifts at King George's Harbour, New Holland
Description: 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.
