The margin of this M.S shows the Danish warship SOPHIA AMALIA built in 1650.
Built as a ship-of-the-line at Hovedøen near Oslo for the Royal Danish Navy.
She was ordered by King Christian IV when he died in 1648 he is succeeded by his son Frederick III
1651 Launched as the SOPHIA AMALIA, named after the English princess Sophia Amalia (married to King Fredrick III)
She was built under supervision of the Scottish shipwright James Robbins.
Displacement 2,000 tons. Dim. 55.8 x 13m.
Three decks.
Armament: 86 - 108 guns.
Crew between 430 and 680 men.
When completed she was one of the largest warships of her time and paintings made of her she looks very similar as the British warship SOVEREIGN OF SEAS.
Sailors believed in the unnatural, and part of the ships decoration reflected this. King Neptune’s sea horses were seen pulling the ship forward on the bow and “Gamle-Erik,” or the devil were placed under the anchor as he was not wanted on deck.
The design on the stern showed the Princess shield as well the different counties in Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark. Norway was represented by the Norwegian lion. In the stern, there were two toilets for the officers but the crew had to use the traditional over the railing.
When war broken out between Denmark/Norway and Sweden in 1657 she was not ready, also the second war between this countries was she not used.
Her after castle was reduced with one deck, most probably while her stability and manoeuvrability was poor. She was more pretty to look at than practical and not really equipped for battle
Took part in the naval battle off Öland in June 1676 between the Danish-Norway and Dutch fleet against the Swedish fleet.
In the early 1660’s was she partly rebuilt.
Till 1680 mentioned in the Danish fleet list.
1687 Was she scrapped, an other source gives that she was scuttled after 1680.
Mozambique 2009 in margin of MS.
Angola 1996 Kz6.000.00 sg1181, scott963e
Source: Wikipedia. Watercraft Philately May-June 2002.