Maluku Islands Collection

Sailing ships in the Spice Islands
Volcano on Tidore in the Moluccas, seen from the neighboring island of Ternate, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Woman of Ambon, Maluku Islands, Indonesia (Amboyna) in shirt. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Frederic
FLO4695496 Woman of Ambon, Maluku Islands, Indonesia (Amboyna) in shirt. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Frederic Shoberl's The World in Miniature: The Asiatic Islands and New Holland, R

Tattooed man of Halmahera (Gilolo), Maluku Islands (Moluccas), and Berilla, an Edjow Galla
FLO4605319 Tattooed man of Halmahera (Gilolo), Maluku Islands (Moluccas), and Berilla, an Edjow Galla, Abyssinia (Caucaso-Ethiopia)

Kayeli village on Buru island, Maluku Islands, Indonesia. Handcoloured copperplate engraved by Andrea Bernieri
FLO4624291 Kayeli village on Buru island, Maluku Islands, Indonesia. Handcoloured copperplate engraved by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient

Arrivee De Drake A Ternate (engraving)
2789128 Arrivee De Drake A Ternate (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Arrivee De Drake A Ternate. Illustration for Journal Des Voyages, 23 August 1885)

Make-Tetti, Raja of Dao, Maluku Islands, Indonesia
6339136 Make-Tetti, Raja of Dao, Maluku Islands, Indonesia by Arago, Jacques Etienne Victor (1790-1855) (after); (add.info.: Make-Tetti, Raja of Dao, Maluku Islands, Indonesia)

Man and woman of the Molucco Isles (Maluku Islands), 1818
6338218 Man and woman of the Molucco Isles (Maluku Islands), 1818 by English School, (18th century); (add.info.: Man and woman of the Molucco Isles (Maluku Islands), 1818

Island called Ternate in the Moluccas, the coast
STC444666 Island called Ternate in the Moluccas, the coast and Dutch East India Company ships in the 1730s, from a series of views of Batavia Schau-platz von Africa und Ost-Indien

Mouth mask probably depicting the head of a rooster (wood, boar tusks, clam shell
1071169 Mouth mask probably depicting the head of a rooster (wood, boar tusks, clam shell, mother-of-pearl, buffalo horn, resinous material & pigment) by Indonesian School

Banda sea
Svetlin Yosifov

Euricles coronata, pub. 1836. Creator: Panacre Bessa (1772-1846)
Euricles coronata, illustration from Flore des jardiniers, amateurs et manufacturiers: D apres les dessins de Bessa. Extraits de l Herbier de l amateur. pub. 1836 (hand coloured engraving)

Medical leeches for sale in Indonesia C015 / 3539
Close up of medicinal leeches in jars for sale on the island of Tenate, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Bright orange christmas tree worm C015 / 3739
A bright orange christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus), close-up. Christmas tree worms live in tubes in hard coral. They get their name from their spiral tentacles

GPAC2A-00011
Native village of Warus-Warus, Ceram, in the Moluccas (Spice Islands). Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Fol. 30v Map of the Sea of Maluku, from the Cosmographie Universelle, 1555
XIR293822 Fol.30v Map of the Sea of Maluku, from the Cosmographie Universelle, 1555 (w/c on paper) by Le Testu, Guillaume (c.1509-73); Min

Nudibranch (Chromodoris kuniei)
A Nudibranch, Chromodoris kuniei, travelling over reef in South Maitara, Tidore, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Boxer crab with anemones
This boxer crab, Lybia tesselata, attaches small stinging anemones to its claws for defence. Photographed at Depan Galala, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Crinoids growing in barrel sponge
Several colourful feather stars or crinoids grow within a barrel sponge. Photographed at the dive site Mare Gam 2, Mare Island, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Pink cowrie shell on soft coral
A pink false cowrie shell, Pseudosimnia punctata, sat on soft coral. Photographed at Island Bay, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Soft coral goby in Indonesia
A soft coral goby, Pleurosicya boldinghi. This individual is well hidden on its soft coral host. Photographed in South Maitara, Tidore, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Anemonefish in bleached anemone
A western clown anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris. Sheltering in an anemone that has been bleached, probably by global warming. Photographed at Lilai North, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Squat lobster in crinoid home
A crinoid squat lobster, Allogalathea elegans, Sheltering at the base of a colourful crinoid. Photographed at Lilai North, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Pair of courting nudibranchs
A pair of nudibranchs, Chromodoris willani, getting ready to mate. Photographed on reef at TG Ball South, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Tree coral in Indonesia
A bright red tree coral, Dendronephthya sp. This lone coral is growing on an empty sea floor in South Maitara, Tidore, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Sunlight streaming over brain coral
Sunlight filtering down through the water over a large single-structure brain coral, Goniastrea australensis. Photographed at the dive site Cliff and Caves, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Spiny waspfish on sand
A very well camouflaged spiny waspfish, Ablabys macracanthus. Sat on black sandy seabed near Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Sap-sucking slug on reef
Sap-sucking slug, Elysia ornata, crawling over a reef off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Shallow seagrass bed in Indonesia
A bed of seagrass growing in shallow water. Seagrass beds are important as they act as nurseries for a lot of marine species. Photographed off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Young bigfin reef squid at night
Individual portrait of a juvenile bigfin reef squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana. Taken during anight dive off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Group of spiny lobster
A group of painted spiny lobster, Panulirus versicolour, sheltered in a crevice. Photographed at Lilai North, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Detail of sea squirt
Detail of branching inside a sea squirt. Photographed on reef off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Large hard coral in Indonesia
An abstract shot of a large hard coral structure, taken by spinning the camera to cause motion blur. On a reef off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Starfish destroying the reef as it feeds
A crown of thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci. It is feeding on the reef and destroying it in the process, as can be seen by the white dead patches

Portrait of common lionfis
A portrait of a common lionfish, Pterois volitans. Photographed at Masi Raja, Pinnacles, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Brian coral in Indonesia
Sunlight streaming over a very large brain coral, Goniastrea australensis. On a reef off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Goby on soft coral in Indonesia
A many host Goby, Pleurosicya mossambica. Detailed view from above resting on pink soft coral. Photographed off Lilai Jetty, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Traditional Indonesian sailing boats
A group of colourful traditional sailing boats along the shore of Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Pinnacle of rock in the Maluku islands
Split view image with rock pinnacle and reef below. Photographed at Tamotamo, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

View above clouds
Aerial view of clouds, shot from an airplane over Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Anemonefish in seagrass in Indonesia
Panda anemonefish, Amphiprion polymnus. A group sheter in their host anemone in a seagrass bed off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Blenny in coral home
A midas blenny, Ecsenius midas, peeks out of its home in hard coral. Photographed at Temornadofa West, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Starfish feeding on coral reef
A group of crown of thorn starfish, Acanthaster planci, feeding and destroying the coral reef. Damanged patches of white coral can be seen where the seastars have fed

Fisherman with catch in Indonesia
Local fisherman presenting his morning catch, Photographed on Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Mouth of parrotfish
Close up of the mouth of a parrotfish, showing teeth. Taken on a night dive off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Shallow reef in Indonesia
Refelection of shallow reef. Photographed off Tafaga, Moti Island, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Mating nudibranch in Indonesia
A pair of nudibranch, Hypselodoris bullockii, mating. Photogrphed in West Maitara, Tidore, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Hermit crab with sponge
A darkglove hermit crab, Calcinus haigae, that has placed a green sponge on its back. This is used for protection and camouflage. Photographed off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Crocodile flatfish
A crocodile fish, Cymbacephalus beauforti. The flat body shape and colouration help it blend into the sea floor. Photographed off Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

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The Maluku Islands, also known as the Spice Islands, have a rich history intertwined with sailing ships and spice trade. The arrival of Sir Francis Drake in Ternate is immortalized in an engraving titled "Arrivee De Drake A Ternate, " showcasing the significance of these islands. Make-Tetti, the Raja of Dao, stands as a symbol of leadership and power in the Maluku Islands. His presence represents the strong cultural heritage that has been preserved throughout generations. In 1818, a man and woman from the Molucco Isles were captured in a captivating photograph. Their traditional attire reflects their connection to their homeland and showcases their unique identity. Ternate Island's stunning coastline captivates visitors with its pristine beauty. As depicted in Johann Wolfgang Heydt's publication from 1744, this island holds immense natural charm that continues to enchant travelers today. A mouth mask intricately crafted with wood, boar tusks, and clam shell depicts a rooster's head - perhaps symbolizing strength or protection. This artifact serves as evidence of the artistic prowess found within Maluku culture. Panacre Bessa's illustration from 1836 introduces us to Euricles coronata - an intriguing species native to these islands. Its vibrant colors highlight the incredible biodiversity present within this region. The Banda Sea surrounding the Maluku Islands offers breathtaking views for those who venture into its waters. Its crystal-clear depths are home to diverse marine life like bright orange Christmas tree worms that add bursts of color beneath the waves. Indonesia is renowned for its traditional medicine practices; medical leeches are no exception. In Indonesia C015 / 3539, we see them available for sale - reminding us of ancient healing traditions still practiced on these islands today. As we explore all that encompasses these captivating islands through various mediums such as engravings and photographs, it becomes evident why they continue to be cherished by locals and admired by visitors from around the world.