Lot 66: William August Thulstrup (active 1870s)

Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas
the first signed, inscribed and dated 'St. Thomas 1872. W Thp.', the second 'St. Thomas. 1873. W THP' (lower right)
pen and ink and watercolour, heighened with white and gum arabic on paper
unframed
12 1/16 x 9 1/8in. (30.6 x 23.3cm.)
a pair (2)

The Danes settled in St Thomas in 1665 and declared it a free port, encouraging it as a trading centre. The capital, Charlotte Amalie, provided one of the best sheltered waterfronts in the Caribbean, and soon attracted ocean traders and pirate ships. Its role as one of the chief emporia of the West Indies continued until the introduction of steam ships in the 1880s and its succession as a trade centre by Barbados.

St Thomas, along with the other Danish islands of St Croix and St John, transferred voluntarily to the United States in 1917, the islands becoming the United States Virgin Islands.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.