Lot 64: Charles de l'Yver , Active late 18th Century two views on the island of grenada: a) Rue des Colonies; b) La Gourmade Both pen and black ink and watercolour; both signed lower right on the mount: Charles de L'yver officier au Rt de Champagne ; both

Both pen and black ink and watercolour; both signed lower right on the mount: Charles de L'yver officier au Rt de Champagne ; both dated lower left on the mount: à la Grenade au 1783 b) inscribed in pen and black ink bottom right: LB f Quantity: 2

measurements note each circa 197 by 270 mm

The island of Grenada was bought by a French company from the English in 1650. It was recaptured by the English in 1762 and ceded to them at the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The French regained control in 1779, during the American War of Independence, but it was restored to England at the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Like other islands in the region, the initial crop was sugar, but this was later varied with other produce. Sir Joseph Banks introduced nutmeg to Grenada in 1782, and it flourished there, providing a more accessible source of spices than the East Indies. It would appear that Charles de l'Yver was an officer serving with his regiment during the French occupation of the island. His journal has been published: '1779-1784, Journal de Charles de l'Yver', in Annales des Antilles, no. 26, 1983-87.