18th.Century Rococo Trade Card John Smith Map And Printseller At Hogarth's Head Cheapside London Circa.1760

Exceptional Mid 18th.Century Copper Engraved Trade Card. John Smith Map and Printseller at Hogarth's Head facing Wood Street Cheapside London (From Mr Sayer's, in Fleet Street). Sells all sorts of fine French and English Prints Maps Drawing Books, Copy Books, Books of Ornaments, Portfolios of all sizes, Watercolours, Indian Ink, Watch Papers, Black Lead & Hair Pencils, Variety of Coloured Perspective Views for the Diagonal Mirror and those Glasses likewise. Also Frames and Glazes Prints Drawings & Paintings in the neatest manner, puts Maps on Cloth and Rollers, & gives the most money for Old Prints and Drawings. N.B. He Colours all sorts of Prints in the neatest Manner etc.

 John Smith, printseller active 1752-1777. The card is characterized by a large rocaille cartouche with two compartments. In the top compartment Smith's shop sign 'Hogarth's Head' is depicted. The compartment below contains the main text. Around the cartouche several examples of Smith's inventory are shown, a Zograscope, a reproduction of a print after Carle Vanloo, and another entitled 'Petite Vue d'Hollande'.

Engraved by Butler Clowes (ca.1730-1782) partially after Carle Vanloo (1705-1765). Some surface grubbiness, short tear upper right and small triangular loss to upper left. Exceptionally Rare, there are comparable examples in the British Museum and Metropolitan Museum of Art collections. 17.9 by 23.2 cms sheet.

 Provenance: Sir Ambrose Heal noted authority on London shops and trades.

Presented in an 18th.Century carved ebonised fruitwood frame. 29.2 by 35.8 cms overall.