Beschrijving
Rare first state of a plate with an autograph dedication in pencil by the engraver, Sansom to an unidentified Mr. Van der Pals. In the middle of the plate an empty oval frame where the artist drew horizontal lines for helping his handwritten annotation. The arms of the seven provinces of the Republic are placed above, below a curtain. On the bottom left is the personification of the Republic on a throne. Behind her stands Mercury, the god of commerce, next to the personification of Liberty. At the feet of Liberty is a cornucopia. From the right many representatives from other continents, bring gifts to the Dutch Maid; they come from Africa, America and Asia. Behind them the personification of shipping and the personification of Europe with a scepter and a helmet with a woman on a cow. This first state does not bear the usual engraved text characterizing later states: ‘Uitgegeven by J. de Leeuw…’