Zompini, Gaetano Gherardo (Nervesa 1700 – Venice 1778). The Coal Carriers. Three coal carriers walking one by one, and a fourth one aside with their highly filled baskets at the back in front of houses at a canal with a small gondola. Each of the men with slouch-hat and a large stick as support. Etching. 27.2 x 19.2 cm.

Beall I 36; Lipperheide Jba 24. – Sheet 8 of Zompini’s Venetian street cries “Le arti che vanno per via nella città …”. – With Italian three-liner. – On smooth wide-margined Italian laid paper.

From the 60-sheet 2^nd edition of 1785 – the 1^st edition of 1753 recorded by Beall in 1 copy only contained just 40 plates – and present here in one of the impressions determined for the foreign market of supposedly the beginning of the 19^th century, characterized by the additional typographic English version of the verses mounted below of the etched original one :

“ We, black as you see us, to carry out coals / Are the only two partners, a licence enrolls; We sell coals of all sorts, and the best of such stuff – Of this business of ours, there's always enough. ”

Offer no. 4,310 / EUR  164. (c. US$ 228.) + shipping

“ I am curious as to the history of this (original Ridinger printing-)plate (just I bought) and the others you have offered. Did you purchase them from the Ridinger estate (indirectly, indeed) or a private collector? These are truly rare one of a kind pieces ”

(Mr. L. A. F., October 28, 2003)