No.1.
Deposé à la Bibliotheque nationale. à Paris chez Berthet, Graveur.
[n.d. c.1811.]
Coloured engraving. 197 x 249mm. 7¾ x 9¾". Two vertical folds. Some paper toning.
A comet flies through the sky as onlookers look up, a man holding a telescope. A Lord and Lady sit and stand facing away from the comet, the lady wears a comet-like headdress representing venus. This is the Great Comet of 1811, which was visible to the naked eye for some 260 days. In America this comet was blamed for a devastating eartquake, but the year 1811 turned out to be particularly fine for wine production, so merchants marketed 'comet wine' at high prices for many years afterwards.
[Ref: 16531] £240.00
[n.d. c.1811.]
Coloured engraving. 197 x 249mm. 7¾ x 9¾". Two vertical folds. Some paper toning.
A comet flies through the sky as onlookers look up, a man holding a telescope. A Lord and Lady sit and stand facing away from the comet, the lady wears a comet-like headdress representing venus. This is the Great Comet of 1811, which was visible to the naked eye for some 260 days. In America this comet was blamed for a devastating eartquake, but the year 1811 turned out to be particularly fine for wine production, so merchants marketed 'comet wine' at high prices for many years afterwards.
[Ref: 16531] £240.00