Ansichten von Missions-Niederlassungen der Evangelischen Bruder-Gemeinde = Vues des Etablissemens Missionaires Fondés par la Communante Evangelique Frères-Unis [wrapper title]

Basel: Birman et Fils, 1835. Near fine.. Four hand-colored aquatints on untrimmed sheets of cream woven paper, each measuring approximately 12.5 x 18.25 inches. Oblong folio. Loose in original wrappers with engraved pictorial title on front cover. Spine of wrappers a bit chipped. Minor wear and light foxing to plates. Rich and deep impressions with expertly-executed hand coloring. In a custom cloth portfolio. A complete set of four beautiful hand-colored views of Antigua issued for the Evangelical Missionary Society between 1830 and 1835. The title translates roughly to Views of the Missionary Establishments Founded by the Evangelical Community of the United Brothers. This suite of plates was commissioned by the Moravian Church as a way of promoting their work on the island. The views were created by Hurlimann and Hegi after Ludwig Stobwasser, and provide striking scenes of the people, landscape, wildlife, and ports of the island country. Stobwasser was himself a missionary in Antigua and his work, like those of his colleagues, was focused on the enslaved population. The four views all picture at least two, and as many as twenty-two indigenous men, women, and children. The plates carry the following titles (with English translations following the original French):

1) "Vue de Cedarhill dans l'Isle d'Antigon aux Indes occidentales" (View of Cedar Hill on the Island of Antigua in the West Indies). Depicts the plantation at Cedar Hill, with a native man and woman, plus a few oxen in the foreground.

2) "Vue de Gracehill dans l'Isle d'Antigon aux Indes occidentales" (View of Grace Hill on the Island of Antigua in the West Indies). A lush landscape surrounding the mission at Grace Hill, with a well-dressed Anglo figure walking near a group of five indigenous women and children.

3) "Vue de Grac dans l'Isle d'Antigon aux Indes occidentales" (View of Grace Bay on the Island of Antigua in the West Indies). Similar to the view of Grace Hill above, but depicting Grace Bay at the right portion of the view.

4) "Vue de Establissement des missions a St. Johns dans l'Isle d'Antigon aux Indes occidentales" (View of the Mission Buildings at St. John's on the Island of Antigua in the West Indies). Mis-numbered "4" as issued, this plate depicts a courtyard scene at the St. John's Mission, featuring over twenty native Antiguans.

A lovely suite of plates featuring stunning views of early-19th-century Antigua, with the scarce original wrapper.
Beinecke Lesser Antilles Collection 820.