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This
fine original antique
line, aquatint tone
print
etching with delicate hand colouring of the cruelty &
indifference of the White Slave Masters on the slaves of
British Guyana
Suriname - plate 62 - was engraved by DK Bonatti and
published by Giulio Ferrario in volume 2 of his 1825
edition of Il Costume
antico e moderno o storia del governo, della milizia,
della religione, delle arti, scienze ed usanze di tutti
i popoli antichi e moderni (Ancient
and Modern Costumes: The history of the government, the
militia, the religion, the arts and sciences, and the
customs of all people ancient and modern)
The Demerara rebellion
of 1823 was an uprising involving more than 10,000
slaves that took place in the former Crown colony of
Demerara-Essequibo (now part of Guyana) led by Quamina Gladstone & his
son Jack. It started as a refusal to work on 50
plantations by some 13,000 slaves. The slaves under
Christian missionary influence believed in pacifism.
They were met with a show of force by the British
troops, which resulted in the deaths of many slaves;
estimated to be between 100 to 250. The bullet riddled
body of Quamina, bound in chains, was put on public
show. John Smith, missionary, was accused of inciting
the rebellion was tried and found guilty. He died in
prison. His death stirred more anti-slavery opinion in
Britain than the deaths of the many who had died from
the guns of British troops.
After his deportation Jack Gladstone helped bring
attention to the plight of sugar plantation slaves,
accelerating the abolition of slavery. Quamina was
declared a national hero, and there are streets and
monuments in Guyana dedicated to him in its capital,
Georgetown.
Published in Milan in 21
volumes by Antonio Fortunato Stella the 17 volumes of
the first issue were published sequentially between 1815
and 1826 after first being issued in 143 weekly
instalments. The work appeared in Italian and French and
has a total of 1500 plates. Smaller size editions with
smaller much less elaborate plates were published in
Florence (1823-38), Naples (1831-42) and even a 16mo.
edition in Livorno (1830).
Giulio Ferrario
was founder of the 'Societa Tipografica de Classici
Italiani' and served as the director of the Braidense
National Library in Milan, Italy. Artists that worked on
this monumental work are: Gallo Gallina, D.K. Bonatti,
Angelo Biasioli (1790-1830), L. Rossi, Paolo Fumagalli,
Gaetano Zancon (1771-1816), G. Bigatti, C. Bramati, G.
Gallo, C. Bottiglia, G. Castellini, Antonio Rancati
(1784-1816), Vittorio Raineri, Sydney Parkinson,
Castelli, A. Sanquirico (1777-1849), Angelo Monticelli
(1778-1837), A.L. Rossins, Bottigella, A. Lanzani,
Vittorio Raineri, Campi and others.
(Ref:
M&B; Tooley)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy & stable
Paper color: - White
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Yellow, green, blue,
red
General color appearance: -
Beautiful
Paper size: - 12 1/2in x
9in (315mm x
230mm)
Plate size: - 12in x
9in (305mm x
230mm)
Margins: - Min 1/2in (10mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - Fold as issued to left
of plate
Verso: -
None
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