Tobacco Seed Fields in Deli, Dutch East Indies, 1910s

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This early 20th-century photogravure sheet documents two essential stages in Deli tobacco cultivation in East Sumatra. The upper image shows … Read more This early 20th-century photogravure sheet documents two essential stages in Deli tobacco cultivation in East Sumatra. The upper image shows workers planting tender seedlings into prepared soil, with nursery buildings and tools visible in the background. The lower scene depicts large structured seed beds protected by shade screens — an important innovation that allowed for controlled growth of the valuable wrapper leaf. Charles J. Kleingrothe’s Medan studio was responsible for the most complete photographic record of the plantation economy in the Dutch East Indies. Deli tobacco was internationally renowned for its quality and was a primary export crop driving global demand for Sumatra’s wrapper leaf in the European and American cigar industry. These images show the careful manual labor and large-scale organization behind that success. Printed in rich photogravure tones and mounted on its original card support, the sheet includes captions in German, Dutch, and English, reflecting its original use for international promotion and documentation. Tobacco-related plates are central items for collectors focusing on East Sumatra’s economic history, and plates showing labor and agricultural stages such as these are increasingly desirable.

Condition report: Very good overall. Minor foxing and age toning in the outer mount margins only. Image areas remain clean, with good preservation of detail and no tears or creases. Verso clean. See less