Beschreibung:

SOUTH SEA BUBBLE] -- Het Groote Tafereel der Dwaasheid, Vertoonende de opkomst, voortgang en ondergang der Actie, Bubbel en Windnegotie, in Vrankryk, Engeland, en de Nederlanden . [Amsterdam:] 1720. Famous book on the first stock market crash caused by John Law in the 18th century: one of the most complete copies to appear on the market. In order to cover the debts of the French state after the death of Louis XIV in 1710, the Scottish banker John Law proposed to the Regent, Philippe d'Orleans, the creation of a general bank which should issue shares. A portion of the funds derived from the sale of the shares were to be invested in a Western Company destined to exploit the French colonies of Louisiana and Canada. An unprecedented speculation ensued, ending only with the fatal crash of 1720, now known as the Mississippi Bubble. The bankruptcy of the company sent shockwaves through the European economy, most notably in France, Holland and England. The imprint of the present lot states it is 'Printed as warnings for the descendants', and contains caricatures of the speculators and the disastrous consequences of Law's schemes. '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). All copies of this edition are made in a slightly different way, and the bibliographies do not agree; the present copy contains the required text and 76 plates; the only copy at auction that we have been able to trace with a larger number of plates is the Nebenzahl copy (Christie's New York, 10 April 2012, lot 125) which had 74 plates supplemented by 3 early engravings. (The Kress copy calls for 85 plates; often the engravings of the dwarfs are counted individually, which would bring the number of plates of this copy to the figure of 82, including the 'Honorary Title'.) A fine copy in a beautiful contemporary Dutch binding. Kress 3217; Goldsmiths 5879 (70 plates only); Sabin 28932. Folio (395 x 545 mm). Letterpress title printed in red and black, additional engraved folding Eere-Titel ('Honorary Title') and 75 plates, comprising: 55 double-page plates, of which 18 folding, and 20 single-page plates, of which 8 folding; the 8 figures of dwarfs mounted on two leaves (old paper repair to verso of Eere-Titel , occasional scattered spotting and browning, mainly confined to text). Contemporary Dutch mottled calf binding, covers panelled with an outer gilt roll-tooled border with ass, harpist, bird, lyre player, winged stallion, organist, lion and triangle player motifs, inner panel with foliate gilt roll-tooled border with large crowns and ornate cornerpieces, enclosing large gilt arabesque, gilt spine (expert repairs at head and tail of spine). Provenance : Pierre Berès (Christie's Paris, 12-13 December 2012, lot 125).