Rare work on the journey of a German officer of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to the East Indies, with a map of the hitherto undescribed Barat Daya Islands (the "South West" Islands) and the Banda Islands, showing New Guinea and "Nova Hollandia" or Australia on the edges of the map. The work contains fascinating descriptions of not only the East Indies, but also the locations the author passed through on his way there, including towns in Germany, the Netherlands and South Africa. Although at least four editions of this work are known, they are all quite rare. The present edition is not mentioned in any of the relevant reference works and is only avaliable in a few libraries, according to WorldCat. We have also only been able to find one other copy in sales records of the past hundred years.
German Ernst Christoph Barchewitz (1687-1758) left his hometown Erfurt in 1707 to travel. He eventually reached Rotterdam, where he was employed by the VOC. In 1711, he embarked on a journey to the East Indies and became the Governor of the Island of Leti. Barchewitz reports extensively on his vicissitudes and gives interesting information on the local natural history, inhabitants and their customs. He also makes mention of sightings of mermaids. The illustrations depict views of Cape of Good Hope with pictures of Hottentots, the Island Banda, Leti, buildings in Batavia, Ambon, and trees and fruits. The work also includes a map of the Banda Sea with its islands. Barchewitz returned to Erfurt in 1722, where he wrote his travel account. The present work is the fourth edition.
With the blind stamp of the Gulden Passer on the first flyleaf. The edges and corners of the boards are scuffed, the binding is somewhat chafed, with loss of a portion of the top layer of the leather at the foot of the spine. Slightly browned throughout. Otherwise in good condition. WorldCat 66973710, 258570258, 1112481646 (6 copies); cf. Mendelssohn I, p. 80 (other ed.); Landwehr, VOC, 332 (other ed.); VD18 11092440 (other ed.).