Monday, December 22, 2008

Java Scenes

Gunong Gedeh


Goenoeng Soembing


Java seine Gestalt, Pflanzendecke und innere Bauart 1857 (Junghuhn) c


Java seine Gestalt, Pflanzendecke und innere Bauart 1857 (Junghuhn)


Zuidkust Beoosten Rankop


Java seine Gestalt, Pflanzendecke und innere Bauart 1857 (Junghuhn) Gunung-Sewu


Java seine Gestalt, Pflanzendecke und innere Bauart 1857 (Junghuhn) Plateau-Dieng


Java seine Gestalt, Pflanzendecke und innere Bauart 1857 (Junghuhn) Kawah-Patua


Java seine Gestalt, Pflanzendecke und innere Bauart 1857 (Junghuhn) f


These mid-19th century lithographic plates come (variously) from the original Dutch and later German editions of a 4-volume work by the eccentric but brilliant Dutch naturalist, Franz Junghuhn. The title roughly translates to 'The Geography and Flora of Java'.

Although the scenes in Indonesia depicted are the same in each edition, new lithographic stones with more detail were prepared for the later version, which also features better printing quality. I've chosen those later ones where possible, except when the age-related damage was more extensive or too difficult to remedy.

Rather than repeat or paraphrase myself, I recommend seeing the Merapi Volcano post from a couple of months ago for more detail about Junghuhn and some biographical links. His life story really is fascinating.

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