Augsburg, Georg Balhasar Probst, ca. 1770. Oblong broadsheet (34.0 x 49.1 cm). Engraved plate, hand-coloured.

This is a fine panoramic view, engraved by the German artist, printer and publisher Georg Balthasar Probst (1732-1801). This is view of the IJ looking towards the Amsterdam harbour, with the several major steeples in the background (Westerkerk, and the later demolished Haringpakkerstoren and Jan Roodenpoortstoren). The coat of arms of Amsterdam, embelished with flags, naval cannons, and banners, is engraved below the main illustration, between a Dutch and French title. The large merchant vessel in the centre of the picture is lifted by a ship camel. "The ship camel was invented in 1690 by the Dutchman Meeuwis Meindertsz Bakker to allow large ships of the line to cross shallow banks that isolated the harbour of Amsterdam from the open sea. In April, he tested the device with the large ship of the line Princess Maria, which was sailed over the shallow waters of Pampus in the Zuiderzee. The Admiralty of Amsterdam rewarded Bakker for his invention." (Wikipedia). This print has a size and subject making it useful as a vue d'optique, or perspective view, which, in combination with a zograscope, creates a seemingly larger image, with some sense of depth. Old number added by hand in the upper margin. Minor, marginal creasing, soiling, and some short tears in the margins, otherwise very good. The colouring is very vivid and neatly done. A wide-margined copy.