This engraving is from the important account of one the most infamous financial meltdowns in history, known as the Mississippi Bubble incident. The title of this engraved view translates as "Harlequin and Bombario in mourning" and shows Harlequin and Bombario in the background with notations stating "the joy is over" and "our business is over" with a bellows in front of them with the inscription "bellow is punctured." At the center is a satyr, who leans over an awakening Mercury. The satyr holds a sign in one hand that translates as "I have invented the shareholding game" while the other hand holds a bag of gold with several rips in it so that the gold coins fall out. There are three columns of verses in Dutch flanking the scene, printed from a separate plate. On a sheet of Dutch text measuring 11.6 x 15.9".

John Law, a Scottish financier, established the Banque Generale (central bank) in France. He was then granted control of Louisiana and founded the Compagnie de la Louisiane d'Occident, in 1717. Law developed an elaborate plan to exploit the fabulous resources of the region, which quickly gained popularity and people rushed to invest, not just in France, but throughout Europe. This resulted in the development of several other overseas companies, such as the English South Sea Company and a number of smaller companies in the Dutch Republic. The share prices rose dramatically in a frenzy of speculation. In 1720 the bubble burst; speculators cashed in, caused a run on the shares, and the company went bankrupt. As a consequence of the failure, confidence in other similar companies failed, and thousands of individual investors across Europe were ruined.

Click here to read more about John Law and the Mississippi Bubble.

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Condition: A+

A crisp impression on a bright sheet with the arms of Amsterdam watermark and a hint of toning along the edges.