Moluccas 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

Mace and nutmeg, Myristica fragrans (Myristica officinalis). Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Dr. Willibald Artus Hand-Atlas sammtlicher mediinisch-pharmaceutischer Gewachse

Indonesia / Moluccas 1646
Ambon (formerly Amboina): general view from the sea, with ships in the foreground

Gathering Pepper
Gathering pepper in the Spice Islands - the Moluccas, in the East Indies, the major producers of spices at that time

Clove - Eugenia aromatica: Native to Moluccas or Spice Islands, Indonesia. Hand-coloured engraving 1823
533410 Clove - Eugenia aromatica: Native to Moluccas or Spice Islands, Indonesia. Hand-coloured engraving 1823.; (add.info.: Clove - Eugenia aromatica: Native to Moluccas or Spice Islands, Indonesia)

Nutmeg: Myrsitica fragrans, showing fruit containing nut surrounded by ari, the source of mace
533363 Nutmeg: Myrsitica fragrans, showing fruit containing nut surrounded by ari, the source of mace. Hand-coloured engraving c1798; (add.info.: Nutmeg: Myrsitica fragrans)

Mace and nutmeg, Myristica fragrans (Myristica officinalis). Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Dr
FLO4564241 Mace and nutmeg, Myristica fragrans (Myristica officinalis). Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Dr. Willibald Artus' Hand-Atlas sammtlicher mediinisch-pharmaceutischer Gewachse

The Conquest of the Moluccas Islands
3499738 The Conquest of the Moluccas Islands; (add.info.: The Conquest of the Moluccas Islands, by Bartolome Juan Leonardo de Argensola (1562-1631). Spanish priest, poet and historian

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

Vandopsis lissochiloides orchid (Vanda batemanii). Moluccas, Philippines. Handcoloured lithograph from Louis van Houtte
FLO4628797 Vandopsis lissochiloides orchid (Vanda batemanii). Moluccas, Philippines. Handcoloured lithograph from Louis van Houtte and Charles Lemaire's Flowers of the Gardens

Costumes de Différents Pays, Moluquois, c1797. Creators: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, LF Labrousse
Costumes de Differents Pays, Moluquois, c1797

Ambonese dancing warrior in blue robe, c.1675-c.1725. Creator: Anon
Ambonese dancing warrior in blue robe, c.1675-c.1725. Kneeling warrior dressed in striped breeches, a red sash over his shoulder and a yellow headband

View of Ternate and the roads, the west coast of Halmahera, North Moluccas, 1821. Creator: Adrianus Johannes Bik
View of Ternate and the roads, the west coast of Halmahera, North Moluccas, 1821. Jailolo in the distance. In the foreground two seated men, one holds the rope of a kite

Coral stone wall with framed opening to Dula (Dullah) village, Dullah Island, Kai Islands... 1824
Coral stone wall with framed opening to Dula (Dullah) village, Dullah Island, Kai Islands, Southeast Moluccas, 1824. Coral stone wall with framed door and reliefs on both sides

An endemic Salmon-crested cockatoo (Moluccan cockatoo), Seram, Moluccas (Maluku), Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Composite image of Wallaceas giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera)
Composite image of Wallaces giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera). This is the worlds largest bee, which is approximately 4 times larger than a European honey bee

Veined octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) between clam shell halves. Ambon, Maluku Archipelago, Indonesia. Banda Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean

Asia, Indonesia, Spice Islands, Maluku, Banda, Rhun island, a deserted white sand beach on the islet of Nailaka

Wrecked Ship
Marthony Mandra

Man and woman of Cochin China (Vietnam) 1818. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Mary Anne Vennings A Geographical Present being Descriptions of the Principal Countries of the World, Darton

Tattooed man of Halmahera, Maluku Islands
Tattooed man of Halmahera (Gilolo), Maluku Islands (Moluccas), and Berilla, an Edjow Galla, Abyssinia (Caucaso-Ethiop). Copied from an illustration in Henry Salts A Voyage to Abyssinia, 1814

Hard coral (Platygyra) in shallow blue water, Ambon, Indonesia

Sunset over the harbour in Ambon city showing the suspension bridge and an outrigger boat, Ambon, Moluccas (Maluku), Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Reticulate stargazer (Uranoscopus sp. ) portrait. Ambon Bay, Ambon, Maluku Archipelago, Indonesia
Reticulate stargazer (Uranoscopus sp.) portrait. Ambon Bay, Ambon, Maluku Archipelago, Indonesia. Banda Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean

Asia, Indonesia, Spice Islands, Seram, Pulau Manawoka island, an inland turquoise lagoon on the island

Asia, Indonesia, Spice Islands, Maluku, a traditional Lamba (or lambo) Pinisi sailing ship on the Indian ocean. Pinisi are Buginese wooden ships

Asia, Indonesia, Spice Islands, Maluku, Ambon, Sapurua island, outrigger fishing boats on a turquoise sea

Asia, Indonesia, Spice Islands, Ambon, Malona Island, a local fisherman in front of a deserted white sand beach

Moluccas

UW INDO 1852 015
Golden Spadefish - school - Too Many Fish dive site, Pulau Koon, central Moluccas, Indonesia Date: 24-Jul-19

UW INDO 1852 001
Green Turtle - swimming - Too Many Fish dive site, Pulau Koon, central Moluccas, Indonesia Date: 24-Jul-19

UW INDO 1843 41
Mandarinfish - with ornate markings - Banda Neira Jetty dive site, night dive, Ambon, Maluku (Moluccas), Indonesia Date: 24-Jul-19

UW INDO 1839 099
Clark's Anemonefish - in Sea Anemone (Stichodactyla sp) - Laha dive site, Ambon, Maluku (Moluccas), Indonesia Date: 24-Jul-19

UW INDO 1839 094
Clark's Anemonefish - in Sea Anemone (Stichodactyla sp) - Laha dive site, Ambon, Maluku (Moluccas), Indonesia Date: 24-Jul-19

UW INDO 1836 077
Scale Worm - on underside of Sea Cucumber (Bohadschia sp) - Laha dive site, Ambon, Maluku (Moluccas), Indonesia Date: 24-Jul-19

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)

"Drake received the king in great state"(engraving)
5995159 " Drake received the king in great state" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Warrior from the Island of Guebe, from Voyage autour du Monde (1817-20)
STC209635 Warrior from the Island of Guebe, from Voyage autour du Monde (1817-20), by Louis Claude Desaulses de Freycinet (1779-1842) engraved by Roger, published 1822-24 (colour litho) by Arago

Corocoro boat from the island of Guebe, Maluku
Corocoro boat with sails and oars from the island of Guebe, Maluku Islands, Indonesia, 19th century. The Guebe chief or king sits on deck, while a drummer beats time for the oarsmen

Warrior from the island of Guebe, Maluku Islands, Indonesia, 19th century. He wears a turban, long coat over trousers and carries a spear and shield. Weapons and musical instruments

Kayeli village on Buru island, Maluku Islands, Indonesia. Handcoloured copperplate engraved by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrarios Ancient and Modern Costumes of all the Peoples of the World

Ms 24224 Fol. 73v Map of the Spice Islands from an account of the Voyage of Ferdinand
CHT274955 Ms 24224 Fol.73v Map of the Spice Islands from an account of the Voyage of Ferdinand Magellan (gouache on paper) by French School, (16th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

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)

Animals and plants of the islands of Southern Asia (colour litho)
3101061 Animals and plants of the islands of Southern Asia (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Animals and plants of the islands of Southern Asia)

Map showing the Molucca Islands off Halmahera, 1640 (coloured engraving)
BON111184 Map showing the Molucca Islands off Halmahera, 1640 (coloured engraving) by Jansson, Joannes (1588-1664); 37.6x48.8 cm; Private Collection; Photo eBonhams, London, UK; Dutch

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

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The Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands, have a rich history intertwined with sailing ships and exotic spices. These islands were once the center of the global spice trade, particularly for mace and nutmeg from the Myristica fragrans tree. In this captivating image, we are transported to Ki Dulan, a Mahometan Mosque located in the heart of Moluccas, Indonesia. The mosque stands tall amidst lush greenery and vibrant flowers that surround it. Traveling back in time to 1646, we witness Indonesian locals gathering pepper - another prized spice found abundantly in these islands. Their diligent work reflects their deep connection to their land's bountiful resources. Nature enthusiasts would be thrilled by an endemic Salmon-crested cockatoo perched gracefully on a branch. This magnificent bird is native to Seram Island within the Moluccas archipelago; its striking appearance adds color and life to this tropical paradise. A composite image showcases Wallacea's giant bee alongside a European honey bee. These fascinating creatures highlight both the diversity and interconnectedness of our natural world. Delving into underwater wonders, we encounter a veined octopus nestled between clam shell halves off Ambon Island in Maluku Archipelago. Its intricate camouflage skills leave us mesmerized by nature's ingenuity. The people who call these islands home are diverse too; Bugis Islanders from Makassar coexist harmoniously with other inhabitants (Indonesia). Their cultural exchange enriches this region even further. As we explore further across Asia, our journey takes us through Rhun Island - one of many jewels within Maluku's Spice Islands. Here lies evidence of a wrecked ship that serves as a reminder of past maritime adventures undertaken by brave explorers seeking new horizons. Finally, let us meet two individuals from Cochin China (Vietnam) captured beautifully in 1818.