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A woman in traditional costume, dancing in profile to the right. In ink near right arm "Speciosum Miracum" (Beautiful Miracle). Plate 21 from 'The History of Java' written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826), published in two volumes, 1817.
After serving as Lieutenant Governor of Java, Raffles returned to London and began preparations for the publication of 'The History of Java'. He collected numerous documents of Javanese culture, including ancient and modern musical instruments, models, books, drawings, cloth, and carvings in wood and metal, as well as natural history specimens like plants, animal skeletons and skins. This immense collection was then transported to London and served his source material for the text.
Abbey: 554.