Von den Weibern in Monomotapa, auss dem IX. Capitel dess andern Buchs [graphic].
Title
Von den Weibern in Monomotapa, auss dem IX. Capitel dess andern Buchs
Description
In the foreground, a woman from Monomotapa stands with her bow and arrow. Behind her, two other women burn off the left breast of a third woman, so that it does not interfere with her ability to shoot an arrow. In the background, a battle is waged between the Monomotapa women and a group of male warriors., Plate 14 in Duarte Lopes's Regnum Congo hoc est: warhaffte vnd eigentliche Beschreibung dess Königreichs Congo in Africa vnd deren angrentzenden Länder darinnen der inwohner Glaub Leben Sitten vnd Klendung wol vnd aussführlich vermeldet vnd angezeigt wirdt (Getruckt zu Franckfort am Mayn: durch Matthias Becker in Verlegung Hans Dietherich vnd Hans Israel von Bry, im Jahr M.D.C.IX. [1609]), n.p., Caption reads: "Diese Weiber sennd under dem Kenser Monomotapa / welcher ein mächtiger Kenser ist / unnd viel Könige under sich hat / welche ihm bissweilen viel zu schaffen geben / derhalben er sich allezeit mit einem grossen Heer Kriegsvolck versehen muss / under welchen sennd die besten die Legionen dieser Weiber / welche von Jugend auss zum Krieg abgerichtet sennd / welche auch auss der uralten Amazoer art ire lincke Brust abbrennen / damit sie ihnen am schiessen nicht hindern. Ihre Wehren sennd Bogen und Pfeil / sennd gute und geschwinde Schützen / auch sehr standthafft unnd unversagt. Diese Weiber haben eine eigene Landschafft zubewohnen / so ihnen von irem Kenser eingegeben ist: Doch zu einer gewissen zeit gesellen sie sich zu den Männern / welche sie ihres gefallens ausssuchen: Und so sie etwan einen jungen Knaben geberen / so schicken sie denselben den Männern heym / so sie aber Mägdlein geberen / so behalten sie dieselbigen sich / und richten sie zum Krieg abe.", Portions of the caption can be translated approximately as follows: "These women are under the Kenser [?] Monomotapa / which is a powerful Kenser / to which many kings belong / which up until now has accomplished much / . . . . / . . . . / from their youth, the women are trained for war / and following the ancient tradition of the Amazoer, they burn off their left breast / so that it does not infere with their ability to shoot. Their weapons are bows and arrows / . . . . / . . . . These women have their own area in which to live / so that they are surrounded by their Kenser. But at certain times they also socialize with men / . . . and sometimes a son is born, who is sent back to the men, but when a daughter is born, she is kept and trained for war.", Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Creator
Bry, Hans Dietherich and Hans Israel von, engraver
Date
[1609]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Sev Lope 1212.F plate 14, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2890
M’Dougald, Elizabeth, b. 1796.
Title
M’Dougald, Elizabeth, b. 1796.
Description
Full-length portrait of Mrs. Elizabeth M’Dougald in a natural setting. She is depicted “in the guise of a Scottish Highlander,” wearing a highland dress and a Scottish bonnet with feathers, and holding two shotguns. --P. 18., In M’Dougald, Elizabeth. The Life, travels, and extraordinary adventures of Elizabeth M’Dougald (Providence, 1834), [1]., "Thus attired I commenced my pursuit after the destroyer of my happiness, -- once the idol that I worshiped”., Elizabeth M’Dougald was a Scottish woman who was abandoned by her husband for another woman. With murderous intentions she pursued him by crossing the Atlantic, traveling throughout Canada and the United States, and enlisting in the Army.
Date
[1834?]
Location
http://www.librarycompany.org/extraordinarywoman/uniform.htm
Johnson, Sophia, b. 1798.
Title
Johnson, Sophia, b. 1798.
Description
Waist-length portrait of the writer, an amputee, holding a book in her left hand., In Johnson, Sophia. The friendless orphan, an affecting narrative of the trials and afflictions of Sophia Johnson, the early victim of a cruel step-mother (Pittsburgh, 1842), title vignette., Sophia Johnson dressed as a man to serve with her brother in the War of 1812., Portrait re-engraved after the original engravings by Huestis in the 1841 New York printing of The friendless orphan.
Date
[1842?]
Location
http://www.librarycompany.org/extraordinarywoman/uniform.htm
Gannett, Deborah Sampson, 1760-1827
Title
Gannett, Deborah Sampson, 1760-1827
Description
In The female review: or, memoirs of an American young lady; whose life and character are peculiarly distinguished-- being a Continental soldier, for nearly three years, in the late American war (Dedham, 1797), frontispiece., Gannett dressed as a man in order to serve in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War., "I shall here notice a heroic deed of this gallantress; which, while it deserves the applause of every patriot and veteran, must chill the blood of the tender and sensible female. Two bastion redoubts of the enemy having advanced two hundred yards on the left, which checked the progress of the combined forces, it was proposed to reduce them by storm. To inspire emulation in the troops, the reduction of one was committed to the Americans, and the other to the French. A select corps was chosen. The commander of the infantry was given to Fayette, with permission to manage as he pleased. He therefore ordered them to remember Cherry-Valley and New London Quarters, and to retaliate accordingly, by putting them to the sword, after having carried the redoubts. Our Heroine was one of these! At dark, they marched to the assault with unloaded arms, but with fixed bayonets; and with unexampled bravery, attacking on all sides at once, after some time of violent resistance, were complete victors of the redoubts."--P. 151-152., Bust-length portrait of Gannett, encircled by ornamental oval frame with decorative elements including eagle, flags, and foliage., Another portrait appears in Chapin, J.R. The historical picture gallery (Boston, 1856), p. 27., Another copy of portrait held in Graphic Arts [Portrait Prints - S [5750.F.29a]]. Copy reproduced in "In Disguise" online exhibition.
Date
1797.
Location
http://librarycompany.org/crossdressing/section1.htm