In-folio (39,5 x 24,5 cm), [1] + [1 blanco] + 25 + [1] + 52 + 31, [1 blanco], 8 pp. With a typographical title (printed in red and black) and 76 satirical engraved plates (some double page, some folding). Three of the present plates are considered extra plates by Muller (portrait of John Law, Jacques III and a map of Louisiana). Some copies have more extra plates, collation is complicated, full list on simple request. (Marginal) foxing, text-lvs age-toned, a few tears without loss in the folding of some plates. Contemporary calf binding, with rich gilt tooling
"First edition of a famous important and much sought work, being a collection of texts and plates satirizing the Englishman John Law, his Mississippi Company, and the international land and trading speculation in worthless shares of the South Sea Bubble of 1719-1720, which resulted in an international scandal. Ref. Sabin 28932; Muller, Historie prenten II p.103-124, nrs. 3536 - 3608 , 3611 , 3613 , 3615 ; Atlas van Stolk, 3452 ff. '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). Provenace: ex-libris Collectie Buijsters-Smets"
