An Historical, Emblematical, Patriotical, and Political Print, representing the English Balloon, or National Debt in the year 1782, with a full View of the Stock Exchange, and its supporters the Financiers Bulls, Bears, Brokers, Lame Ducks, and others, and a proportionate Ball of Gold, the specific size of all the Money we have to pay it with supposing that to be Twenty Millions of Pounds sterling, the Gold, and Silver Trees entwined with Serpents, & upheld by Dragons, for the pleasure of Pluto & all his Bosom Friends.
E.H.P. Eliz.h Hen.ta Phelps, pinx.t. W.m. Phelps Inv.t. F. Jukes Sculp.t. London, Publish'd as the Act Directs, by W.m Phelps, July 1, 1785. Aquatint with etching & engraving. Sheet 540 x 410mm (21¼ x 16"). Trimmed into plate, some wear, with repairs. Extremely rare but damaged. A satire of the National Debt, with the Stock Exchange (New Jonathan's Coffee House in Change Alley) with a balloon on the roof held in place by bulls and bears with human faces. In the street are investors, some with webbed feet indicating they are 'lame ducks'. BM Satires 6803.
[Ref: 57123] £950.00