East prospect of Juan Fernandes Island antique print. Anson, c1748.

by Anson, George

Juan Fernandez Island off the coast of Chile - from where William Dampier rescued the Miskito Indian, marooned there for three years, after the British ship he was working on departed hurriedly to avoid attack by the Spanish. 

Original copperplate engraving published in London in 1748 for A Voyage Round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II III, IV (1740,1,2,3,4) by George Anson Esquire, "the story of a remarkable voyage extremely well told".

During Britain's conflict with Spain, between 1740 and 1744 George Anson (1697-1762) led a squadron of eight ships on a mission to disrupt or capture the Pacific Ocean possessions of the Spanish Empire. Anson's voyage was notable for the capture of the Manila Galleon (Spain's regular crossing of the Pacific Ocean between the Spanish Crown's Viceroyalty of New Spain in Mexico City and its Asian territories, known as the Spanish East Indies). Returning to Britain via China Anson circumnavigated the world. He was appointed Admiral of the entire British Fleet and initiated many reforms in the navy.

This beautiful engraving with an early sailing ship has fine later hand-color, wide margins all round, and two vertical folds to accommodate a smaller publication. Page edges have become slightly damaged and soiled over the past hundreds of years. Page 300 x 475mm (11.75 x 18.75 inches), with central vertical fold to accommodate publication, and fragile right edge of paper. To intaglio impression measures 220 x 435mm (8.6 x 17.25 inches).