Ile de Ceylan : croquis, moeurs et coutumes / J.B. van der Aa 1899

This is the cover of a book from 1899, "Ile de Ceylan: Croquis, Moeurs et Coutumes," by J.B. van der Aa. A subtle emblem sits at the bottom right. Within a circle, the letters 'A' and 'G' intertwine, possibly alluding to the publisher. Such emblems are visual anchors, harking back to ancient seals and heraldic crests. These symbols were not merely decorative; they conveyed identity, authority, and lineage. The interweaving of letters in this emblem reminds me of the endless knot, a Buddhist symbol representing the interconnectedness of all things. Here, the emblem’s placement on a book about Ceylon suggests a bridge between cultures, hinting at the complex interplay of traditions. The emblem's looping lines seem to mirror the cyclical nature of history itself, where images and ideas resurface, transformed by time and context.