Friedrich Georg Schmidt (fl.1857-1881)
Skizzen aus dem Osten, 1847-1860: an album including 103 watercolours including 44 views of Singapore, 16 of Penang, Malay, Javanese and Malaccan scenes, 4 Philippine subjects, 8 views of the Chinese Treaty Ports, 6 views of Thailand, 5 views of St. Helena, 10 views of Gibraltar, Aden, Suez, Malta, Cairo and the Nile, and 3 views of Ceylon; with a panoramic albumen print of Singapore in 1892 and three watercolours of Penang, Pedra Branca and Krakatoa, Sunda Straits, the watercolours 7¾ x 12¾in (9.7 x 32.5cm.) and similar, laid down on 107 cardleaves, and titled and dated on the mounts, oblong folio; contemporary red hard grained morocco gilt with raised strapwork bands enclosing central lozenges, the upper cover titled in gilt, the covers decorated with brass studs, the lower hinge split, extremeties a little rubbed, gilt edges.
An album of watercolours by Schmidt, a Hamburg shipowner, with views taken on his voyages to the Far East from 1847 on his own Hamburg flagged barque the Georg Heinrich and on other ships of his line. Of particular interest are the 44 views of Singapore, which was obviously Schmidt's principal port. His carefully observed views provide an important early record of Singapore in the mid 19th century.