St. Helena, Napoleon, Whittle/Laurie, 1818, The Island of St. Helen/L'Isle de S.te Hélene

Very rare copper engraved optical view, published 1818 by Whittle and Laurie in London, showing the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Saint Helena was where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled until his death in 1821. From 1821 to 1834 the island was in full control of the East India Company. After the passing of the 1833 India Act Saint Helena returned to the British Crown. Image from an 18th century print by an anonymous artist after a work by Jan Van Ryne.

Upon learning of his deportation to the island of Saint Helena, Napoleon was transferred on August 7, 1815, to the British ship the Northumberland, which took him on a journey lasting two months and one week. On October 15, 1815, the Northumberland was anchored off Saint Helena. On the following day, Napoleon disembarked.

Saint Helena is a volcanic island situated 1,900 km west of the African continent in the South Atlantic Ocean. With a population of approximately 5,000 to 6,000, the island has only three access points to the sea. Its isolation and the steep black cliffs, which range from 200 to 300 meters in height, made it an easily monitorable and defensible location. The island was under the possession of the British East India Company rather than the British state, which had to lease it for this purpose of keeping Napoleon isolated of the world.

Napoleon died there on May 5, 1821.

Good condition. Original coloring. Some light age browning and staining in the margins and some minor repairs, not affecting the image. Never folded.

Image 23,5x39,5cm, page 27,5x42cm