Olfert Dapper
Encyclopedia
Olfert Dapper was a Dutch
physician
and writer
. He wrote books about history
and geography
, although he never travelled outside Holland. Until today, his book Description of Africa (1668) is a key text for Africanist
s.
Olfert Dapper was born in 1635 or possibly early 1636 in Amsterdam
in the Dutch Republic
. In January 1636, he was baptized
in the Lutheran
church in Amsterdam.
In 1658, he registered at the University of Utrecht
. After two years, he was signing himself as doctor medicinæ, but there is no evidence that he studied medicine.
He wrote a book on the history of Amsterdam
. Later he also wrote about Africa
, China
, India
, Persia, Georgia
, and Arabia, although he had not visited these exotic destinations himself. In fact, he never travelled outside Holland. His books became well-known in his own time. Translations appeared in English
, French
, and German
.
He died on 29 December 1689 in Amsterdam.
Naukeurige Beschrijvinge van Africa gewesten (1668) is a key text for Africanist
s.
In Amsterdam, the street Dapperstraat was named after him.
In Paris
, the Musée Dapper
was opened in 1986, named after Dapper. The Dutch writer Willem Frederik Hermans
visited the museum and wrote a book on it with the title Het Evangelie van O. Dapper Dapper (1973).
Peter S. Beagle
dedicated The Last Unicorn
to Dr. Dapper for his reports of unicorns in Maine.
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He wrote books about history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, although he never travelled outside Holland. Until today, his book Description of Africa (1668) is a key text for Africanist
Africanist
Africanist may refer to:*A specialist in African studies*A strand of African nationalism during the activism against apartheid in South Africa particularly associated with the Pan Africanist Congress...
s.
Biography
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. In January 1636, he was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
church in Amsterdam.
In 1658, he registered at the University of Utrecht
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
. After two years, he was signing himself as doctor medicinæ, but there is no evidence that he studied medicine.
He wrote a book on the history of Amsterdam
History of Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a long and eventful history. The origins of the city lie in the 13th century, when fisherman living along the banks of the River Amstel built a bridge across the waterway near the IJ, then a large saltwater inlet. Wooden doors on the bridge served as a dam; these protected the town...
. Later he also wrote about Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Persia, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, and Arabia, although he had not visited these exotic destinations himself. In fact, he never travelled outside Holland. His books became well-known in his own time. Translations appeared in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
He died on 29 December 1689 in Amsterdam.
Influence
To this day, Dapper's book Description of AfricaDescription of Africa (Olfert Dapper)
Description of Africa . A detailed description of the parts of Africa known to Europeans in the mid seventeenth century written by the geographer Olfert Dapper. It was first published in Amsterdam by Jacob Moeurs in 1668, and a second edition appeared in 1676...
Naukeurige Beschrijvinge van Africa gewesten (1668) is a key text for Africanist
Africanist
Africanist may refer to:*A specialist in African studies*A strand of African nationalism during the activism against apartheid in South Africa particularly associated with the Pan Africanist Congress...
s.
In Amsterdam, the street Dapperstraat was named after him.
In Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the Musée Dapper
Musée Dapper
The Musée Dapper is a museum specializing in African art. It is located in the XVIe arrondissement at 35 rue Paul Valéry, Paris, France, and open daily except Tuesdays; an admission fee is charged....
was opened in 1986, named after Dapper. The Dutch writer Willem Frederik Hermans
Willem Frederik Hermans
Willem Frederik Hermans was a Dutch author. He is considered one of the three most important authors in the Netherlands in the postwar period, along with Harry Mulisch and Gerard Reve...
visited the museum and wrote a book on it with the title Het Evangelie van O. Dapper Dapper (1973).
Peter S. Beagle
Peter S. Beagle
Peter Soyer Beagle is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. His most notable works include the novels The Last Unicorn, A Fine and Private Place and Tamsin, and the award-winning story "Two Hearts".-Career:Beagle won early recognition from The Scholastic Art &...
dedicated The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn is a fantasy novel written by Peter S. Beagle and published in 1968. It has sold more than five million copies worldwide since its original publication, and has been translated into at least twenty languages....
to Dr. Dapper for his reports of unicorns in Maine.