View of Van Diemen roadstead on Tonga

During his voyage in 1642-1644 around Australia, past New Zealand and through part of the Pacific Ocean, Abel Tasman called at the Tonga Islands in January 1643. The inhabitants approached them to offer gifts and to trade. The image shown here is a virtually exact copy of the drawing of these events in Tasman’s journal, made by Isaac Gilseman

For the original image see Nationaal Archief 1.11.01.01, nr. 121 (unfol.), 23 januari 1643. No other copies from the Vingboons workshop are known to exist.

Also see Carte di Castello 37.

Part of the Carte di Castello, collected by Cosimo de Medici III in 1667 and 1669 during his tours through Europe. Cosimo III bought the 66 watercolours by Vingboons in December 1667 in Amsterdam, through mediation of Pieter Blaeu.