Manuscript notice by Pieter Boddaert that he saw a living rhinoceros in Middelburg on 1 August 1742 (source 1901). In his notebook he inserted a printed “Advertissement”, a broadsheet issued to advertise the exhibition of Clara (source 1902).
Middelburg is the capital of the province Zeeland in the South-East of the Netherlands. It is 170 km south of Amsterdam, and 130 km south of Leiden.
Literature
- van der Ham 2022
Source 2901. Pieter Boddaert – Manuscript notes
* Pieter Boddaert (1730–1795), Dutch physician and naturalist
Boddaert, P. 1742. Manuscript notes on rhinoceros in Middelburg, 1742 and 1756. In: Aantekeningen van allerhande zaken. – Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, Signatuur KB: 135 K 37: [thanks to Gerard Heerebout, 2014].
Manuscript note by Pieter Boddaert. In: Aantekeningen van allerhande nature, begonnen den 1 Augustus 1740, p.73:
Original text (Dutch)
Den Rhinoceros aan de overzijde afgebeeld heb ik op den 1 Augustus 1742 levende binnen Middelburg gezien, en quam dezelfde vrijwel overeen met deze afbeeldinge, doch de hoorn op de neus was noch zo hoog niet uitgewassen, en ‘t geen zich hier als schilden vertoond, vertoonde zich wel mede zo in ‘t leven, doch werden dezelve alleen geformeerd door diepe kreuken in den huid, daar men wel bijkans de gehele hand ondersteken kon. De huid was bruin grau, en zo hard, dat men met een dikken stok daarop slaande, zoude gedacht hebben, dat men op een houte plank sloeg.
English translation
The rhinoceros depicted on the reverse I have seen on 1 August 1742 alibe inside Middelburg. The animal resembled this depiction, except that the horn on the horn had not reached this size, and what is shown here as skin-shield was also visible in the living animal, but they are only formed by deep folds in the skin, where you can almost put your entire hand. The skin was brown grey, and so tough, that beating it with a thick stick, one would think to have hit a wooden plank.
Literature
- Van der Ham 2022, fig. 21 – states opened page is 198 x 320 mm, shown in Rijksmuseum exhibition 2022.
- Heerebout, G. 2014. Een neushoorn in Middelburg. Zeeland (Tijdschrift van het Zeeuwsch Genootschap der Wetenschappen) 23 (3): 90–94.
Source 2902. Broadsheet issued in Middelburg
Broadsheet “Advertissement” inserted by Boddaert in his notebook.
Broadsheet of 1742.
Original text (Dutch)
Advertissement. Aan alle Heeren en Liefhebbers wort Bekent gemaakt, dat alhier is gearriveert een Levendige Rhinoceros int Gebiet van den Grooten Mogol gevangen int Lantschap Assem, en uijt Bengalen in Hollant Aangelant. wiens weergaa noyt Bevorens hier is geweest, en men seght hij wort wel hondert Jaar Oud, en Deese is soo Tam als een Kalf, en is te sien . . . tot . . . Eijder Persoon voor 4 stuijvers en kindere van Elf a Twaalf jaar voor 2 stuijvers.
English translation
Advertisment. To all Gentlemen and Enthusiasts it is announced that a living Rhinoceros has arrived here, which was captured in the territory of the Great Mogul, in the country of Assem, and brought to Holland from Bengal. The like of which has never before been here, and it is said that he can become well over a hundred years old, and this one is as tame as a calf, and can be seen from . . . to . . . Each person for 4 stuivers, and children of eleven to twelve years old for 2 stuivers.
The blank spaces show that this paper could have been used in different cities.
Below printed text there are words in manuscript (by unknown person):
Original text (DUTCH)
dit beest is te seen over de Mol Straat bij de Kraan. en is wel 3500 lb swaar.
English translation
This beast is on show above the Mol Straat near the Kraan, and weighs 3500 lb.
* The Mol Straat is still (2024) so named in the centre of Middelburg. The Kraan (crane) was a structure used for the loading and unloading of ships.
