Antique Print of Fort Geldria or Fort Geldaria, located in Pulicat, Tamil Nadu

Antique print titled 'Fort Hollandois de Palliacate, nommé Gueldre - Hollands Fort te Palliacatte, genaamd Gelderland'. Original old print with a plan of Fort Geldria or Fort Geldaria. Fort Geldria, located in Pulicat, Tamil Nadu, was the seat of the Dutch Republic's first settlement in India, and the capital of Dutch Coromandel. It was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1613 and became the local governmental centre in 1616. It was named for Geldria, the native province of Wemmer van Berchem, the General Director of the company. Regularly protected by a garrison of 80 to 90 men, Fort Geldria was the only fortification in the Indian empire; all other positions of the Dutch Company were trading posts. Originates from a Dutch edition of 'Histoire générale des voyages' by Antoine-François Prévost.

Engraved by J. van Schley. Jakob van der Schley (Amsterdam, 1715-1779) was a Dutch draughtsman and engraver, who studied under Bernard Picart, and whose style he subsequently copied.

Condition: Good. General age-related toning. Minor wear and soiling, blank verso. Please study image carefully.

Date: c.1760

Overall size: 19.2 x 25.3 cm.