Image from the diary of Carl Johan Gethe; a cartographer on board the Gotha Leyon; which left Sweden on a three year trading expedition in 1746. Gethe's diary or Dagbok is titled: Dagbok hallen pa resan till Ost Indien begynt den 18 octobr: 1746 och slutad den 20 juni 1749 or 鈥楧iary of a journey to East India begun on 18 October 1746 and ending June 20; 1749'.

The Swedish East India Company (Swedish: Svenska Ostindiska Companiet or SOIC) was founded in Gothenburg; Sweden; in 1731 for the purpose of conducting trade with the Far East; and grew to become the largest trading company in Sweden during the 18th century. It closed in 1813.