Numerous finds today relating to fire, and water, and this one bridges the gap--an 18th century engraving, copperplate print I believe, of "fire boats,"which were built and fielded by the defending Dutch rebels in the Siege of Antwerp, part of the Eight Years War against the Habsburgs. From what I understand, these ships, which functioned essentially as floating bombs, did immense damage, and have since been described as an early form of weapons of mass destruction. I didn't know any of these specifics when I came across this engraving--which is mounted to backing paper that clearly came from a scrapbook, with a few clipped poems pasted to the reverse relating to time--but it doesn't take much knowledge to find it a striking and potent image, and feels no surprise that these boats were commonly known as "Hellburners."
8 1/8" x 6 3/4" as mounted. Copper engraving published in Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle", London, edited by Sylvanus Urban (a pseudonym for Edward Cave), a pioneering monthly digest of news, commentary, and literature that defined the term "magazine." Good condition, trimmed from original source and pasted down to backing paper.
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