South Sea Bubble - photo 1
South Sea Bubble - photo 2
South Sea Bubble - photo 3

South Sea Bubble

Lot 135
30.07.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 10 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 381343
Lot 135 | South Sea Bubble
Estimate value
£ 5 000 – 8 000
Het Groote Tafereel der Dwaasheid, Vertoonende de opkomst, voortgang en ondergang der Actie, Bubbel en Windnegotie, in Vrankryk, Engeland, en de Nederlanden, gepleegt in den Jaare MDCCXX. [Amsterdam: D. Onder de Linden], ‘1720’ [1780].

The fullest version, extra-illustrated with 3 proof plates, of a ‘extraordinary visual record of the first banking crash, showing the shocking effects of the South Sea Bubble in France, England and Holland, and placing John Law (1671-1729), with his Mississippi company scheme, squarely at the centre of the disastrous chain of events. ‘A unique historical document … of real significance’ (Cole, p.1); 'the engravings, which illustrate the rise and fall of the great speculation, are full of humor; many of them are exceedingly ludicrous, and some very obscene' (Sabin). Among the full complement of prints is a set of playing cards satirising John Law. The work is bibliographically complex, and rarely are two copies the same. Having appeared first in 1720-21, it continued to be issued throughout the 18th century, growing with each issue to 74 engraved plates, with several copies (such as Kress) also extra-illustrated. The present copy apparently belongs to an issue of 1780, as indicated by the date on p. 32 of part two and known through newspaper advertisements of that year. In this copy the caricature 'Bombario Actionist' plates (26 and 29) are on 8 individual sheets. The loose insertions include three proof plates: nos. 12, 17 and 73 (12 and 73 before letters, 17 with variant side panel and differing text); 5 supplementary plates on 3 sheets; a 4-stanza broadsheet poem 'Let op 't End', with manuscript date 6 November 1720; and an official broadsheet declaration, with arms of Amsterdam at head, dated a month earlier. Cf. Cole, Great Mirror of Folly, 1949; Goldsmiths' 5879; Kress 3217 (85 plates); Sabin 28932.

Folio (437 x 262mm). Title printed in red and black, engraved plate list, 74 listed and 2 unlisted plates, the majority double-page or folding, plates 68 and 70 with titles differing from list, plates 26 and 29 both on four sheets, 3 proof plates and 5 supplementary plates loosely inserted (clean tear in plate 1, plate 54 bound at end, plate 12 bound with text, marginal waterstains, occasional light browning and creasing in plates). Contemporary Dutch half calf (upper joints slightly split, corners bumped, extremities rubbed). Provenance: Jac. Hooft Graafland (20th-century bookplate) – Arcana collection (sold Christie’s, 27 October 2010, lot 35).
Auction house category:Books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.07.2020 – 30.07.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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