Satirical Print, A Coat of Arms for a Stamp on Income, 1798, RARE

Lettered with title, text within, artist's name and publishing details: 'Pub by SW Fores, Dec. 20. 1798, No 50, Piccadilly - Folio's of Caracatures [sic] lent out for the Evening'

A lion with the head of William Pitt the Younger and a unicorn with that of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount of Melville support the escutcheon framing the vignette showing a family seated at dinner that is interrupted by a tax-collector (left). He carries off a large pudding, a banner overhead reads, "Tax on Income", to the dismay of husband, wife, and three children only a small slice of pudding is left on the dish... Pitt says: "Give all thou cans't / And let me dream the rest;" [Pope's 'Eloisa to Abelard'] Within Dundas banner: "Man wants but little here below, \ Nor wants, that little long!" [Young's 'Night Thoughts'.] Surmounting the crest is a lean 'Fortunatus's Purse' and 'Wishing Cap'; these rest on a cushion inscribed 'Value \ Above what you are Worth \ Nothing'. Pitt and Dundas stand on a scroll reading: 'BLESSED IS HE THAT EXPECTETH NOTHING. - FOR HE SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED'.

Date: 1798

Measurement: Plate: 12.25" by 9.5"

Material: Etching on paper

Condition: Good, small paper loss at upper right margin; loss at bottom right margin... some toning as depicted.

$295

SKU: 110-1011

For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.

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