When, in 1985 Dutch master shipwright Willem Vos started the reconstruction of the Batavia his dream was to sail the vessel eventually to Indonesia, the former Dutch East Indies. That, after 15 years, the ship would really set sail was an event very view really dared to hope fore anymore....and that this would take place shortly after the year 2000 Olympics, in Sydney.....
.... the Batavia sailed , as glorious as her predecessors 372 years before, on the Tasman Sea and so much better as anticipated. The craftmanship of Willem Vos was clearly proven. Read here his touching words which are included in the preface of the book.
The Dutch / Australian photographer Jaap Roskam followed the Batavia , first in Holland and later in Austraslia , on all those journeys with his camera and he published a remarkable book. With over 250 photos in a very special handcrafted style. Since the first publication the book found it's way to the bookshelves of the Batavia Crew, members of the Dutch Royal family, numerous embassies, Australian Senators , an American former president and in the collections of Maritime Museums all over the world. Each copy is personalised and numbered.
You too can order a copy of this remarkable book. Do not let this opportunity go by, due to the extreme costs of insurance the Batavia will most likely never set sail anymore and the book will not be produced for ever either. No more than 1000 copies world-wide will be made.
 ' Sailing the Last East Indiaman - Batavia ' is the best possible salute to all those men and women who made this historical sailing event a reality. Firstly to the workers who built the ship from 1985 till 1995, and later to the sailors who dared to go out onto the ocean; since the 17th century no-one sailed a ship like this anymore. The last sailor with the experience to sail a ship like the Batavia died over 300 years ago. No manuals where left to learn from. Setting the sails and navigating with a whipp-staf was a new experience for the international crew, used as they where to modern day wind jammers.
Each copy of 'Sailing the last East Indiaman - Batavia' is made to order , printed on heavy weight parchment alike paper in the highest possible photographic reproduction quality, hand bound in a traditional bookbinders workshop and completed with a personalised owners page and serial number. Complete with a replica of the first VOC coin , a Dutch Riks Daalder, which was found in the wreck of the first Batavia on the West Australian Coast in 1962. Delivered in a beautifull hand-made slip case.
A very rare book , no expenses have been saved to make it the absolute master piece for every maritime collection.
Read here more detailed about the book or buy it now:
The price of this exclusive publication is Euro 179.= , inclusive the personalised owners page with name , production date and serial number , the slip-case and the specially reproduced Batavia coin.
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