I. VUE DU FORT ROYAL DE LA MARTINIQUE...[plus two others with same caption title]. [with:] II. VUE DU PORT DE LA TRINITÉ ET TOUT LE NORT DE LA MARTINIQUE [caption title]

[Augsbourg: F.X. Habermann, ca. 1780].. Four engravings, each approximately 19 x 15 1/2 inches. Moderate edge wear and creasing. Minor dampstaining on first engraving. One print with two-inch piece torn from upper right corner. Light vertical fold line through center. Good. Archivally matted, protected with mylar sheet. A charming set of four views of Martinique. The first three images show Fort Royal from several approaches, including a detailed view over the fort into the harbor which best displays the fort's layout. The fourth view, of Port de la Trinité, shows the settlement in the distance with several ships of the line, including a British vessel, in the foreground. Habermann (1721-96) was a prolific artist who produced several engravings of American scenes for a series he called "Collection des Prospects," which appears in the upper left corner of each of the present images. They were often executed with exaggerated perspectives, and produced in Paris, London, and Augsbourg. The images were produced as "vues d'optique," and travelling showmen would go from city to city with viewing machines with special mirrored lenses which would render the images in a three-dimensional effect. The reversed caption at the top would be legible, and the showman would read the caption aloud. The upper classes often owned their own viewing machines through which to enjoy the images.

A rare and unusual series of views of Martinique.