Very rare first and only edition of a beautifully illustrated account of a voyage to the Dutch East Indies, undertaken from 1668 to 1674 by Gerrit Vermeulen (dates unknown), on the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ship Eendracht. The work contains detailed descriptions of all places visited during the voyage, including the Salt Islands, Cape of Good Hope, Batavia, Java, Celebes, the Moluccas, Ambon, and Timor, with much attention to the life and customs of the natives, especially on Batavia and Java. The delicate engravings depict a ship in a gale, a tea ceremony, a Chinese festival in Batavia, Chinese funeral ceremonies, the court of Makassar, and the costumes of the Makassar people.
The Amsterdam publisher Jan Claesz. Ten Hoorn (1671-1715) explains in the preface that he came in possession of the manuscript by accident, and hopes the reader will find it of interest, especially as the work contains a full history of the recent war with Makassar. The main conditions of the peace agreed upon between the King of Makassar and the governor-general of the VOC, Cornelis Janszoon Speelman (1628-1684), on November 18, 1667, are given. The work is quite rare, as only 8 copies have been recorded in institutions, and we have not been able to trace any other copies in sales records.
From the library of Boudewijn Büch (1948-2002). The work is lightly browned, a faint water stain throughout, mostly visible on the first and last 5 leaves. Otherwise in good condition. Landwehr & V.d. Krogt, VOC, 289; Scheper, Jan Claeszoon ten Hoorn, 1677-05; STCN 125381298 (7 copies); Tiele, Bibl. 1148; USTC 1813402 (8 copies).