Dutch East India 1623
HANDMADE IN EUROPE
FREE WORDLWIDE DELIVERY
30-DAY RETURN PERIOD
24-HOUR SUPPORT
Printing & Framing
All pieces are kept in original dimensions and printed on a custom fine art paper specially developed to match the texture of the original certificate. Prints are mounted behind a premium "passe-partout" mat that adds to the visual appeal of the piece. This is a stunning method of framing and the preferred choice of most artists and galleries for this size of prints.
Our premium frames are available in black, white, natural oak, and natural wenge. Each frame is handcrafted from premium, FSC-certified hardwood and glazed with museum-grade protective acrylic glass to ensure longevity. All pieces arrive with pre-installed hanging hardware for easy installation. Frames feature an elegant 0.6" (15mm) profile and measure 18.5" x 13.8" (47cm x 35cm).
Shipping & Returns
All pieces are made to order and assembled by hand, so please allow a few days for us to prepare your order. You'll receive a shipping confirmation with a tracking details from us as soon as your order has shipped so you can keep an eye on things.
All orders are shipped using premium couriers to ensure speedy and careful delivery. Please see approximate delivery times below. If you'd like a more precise estimate, please reach out and we'll be happy to help you.
Standard delivery: 3 - 5 business days
Express delivery: 1 - 2 business days
We offer a 30-day return policy on all standard orders. If you'd like to make a return or exchange or if your piece arrives in anything other than perfect condition, please let us know and we will repair or replace the piece!
DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY
In 1602, the Dutch government set out to monopolize the intercontinental spice trade, establishing the Dutch East India Company as an official colonial agency. The company was given massive financial backing and the legal quasi-governmental power to wage war, create overseas settlements, and uphold its own jurisprudence. For over 200 years the company represented Dutch interests in Asia and dominated European trade. The Company known as Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie in Dutch, or simply VOC, is widely considered the first multinational corporation, and the world’s largest company by any measure for most of its lifespan, eclipsing the ventures of both the British and Portuguese.
Between 1602 and 1796, the VOC sent almost a million Europeans to work in the Asia trade on 4,785 ships and netted for their efforts more than 2.5 million tons of Asian trade goods. By contrast, the rest of Europe combined sent only 882,412 people from 1500 to 1795, and the fleet of the English (later British) East India Company, the VOC's nearest competitor, was a distant second to its total traffic with 2,690 ships and a mere one-fifth the tonnage of goods carried by the VOC. The VOC enjoyed huge profits from its spice monopoly through most of the 17th century.
The Company became exceptionally profitable and continued to flourish. The Dutch government allowed the company to build forts throughout south-east Asia and establish footholds across the continent. After years of conflicts with the Portuguese navy, the VOC began to surpass its main competitor, and in 1619 stormed Jakarta to establish its city-spanning headquarters, Batavia. This trading outpost gave the company a stronghold in the Pacific, allowing it to exert its influence over surrounding trade routes. This victory devastated Java, razing settlements, and killing hundreds.
For the next 50 years the company used an aggressive economic policy to sabotage its rivals, creating an intra-Asia trade system that allowed them to purchase and sell precious metals at a significantly reduced rate. The Portuguese’s influence eventually waned and was replaced by the British’s naval supremacy. The profits of colonial trade gradually fell over the next 50 years, as the spice market became oversaturated due to the new trade links formed with South America.
The Dutch continuously clashed with the British, entering two wars that devastated both sides. The second conflict took place between 1780 and 1784 and almost ruined the company, with British forces destroying half of the Dutch fleet. The numbers were never recovered and by 1799 the Dutch East India Company was completely disbanded.
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MUSEUM-GRADE REPRODUCTION
TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL
Our leading reproduction artists spend months making sure that each print looks exactly like the original certificate. This involves a custom fine art paper specially developed to match the texture of the original certificate paper so you can enjoy the decorative charm of these rare historic pieces without the hefty price tag or the hassle of auction.
Guaranteed to Last a Lifetime
MADE FROM THE BEST MATERIALS
We visited every corner of the print world in search of the highest quality materials and stopped at nothing to create the best framed product on the market. Reproduced by leading production artists, printed on a custom fine art paper specially developed to match the original texture, and framed by hand, the result is a museum-grade product guaranteed to last for more than 50 years.