Oysters , treat  yourself  with  Oysters

Bosse, Abraham (Tours 1604 – Paris 1676). The Oyster Vendor as Street Trade. Etching for Le Blond. C. 1640-50. Inscribed: ABosse jnuen et fc. / le Blond excud auec Priuilege. 21.9 x 14.4 cm.

Beall F 5; Lipperheide Fd 1; Allgemeines Künstler-Lex. XIII, 205. – LES CRIS DE PARIS. – French quatrain in the lower margin. – Especially in the wide white paper-margin slightly waterstreaky, in the corners traces of previous mounting. – Watermark Bunch of Grapes. – Otherwise

“ Very  much  wanted  are (Bosse’s) numerous engravings for the  true  representation  of the traditions, customs and fitments of domestic life, and the costumes of the different classes of France in the age of Louis XIII ”

(Erich von Rath). And José-Michel Lothe in AKL:

“ Fashion and costume engravings in which B. depicted everyday life scenes, mostly from the Parisian life, masterly up to the tiniest detail, were highly instrumental in his success; the most effective of these are … Les cris de Paris … With his work B. wanted to create a true portrait of reality, as he expressed himself analogously in the publication ‘Sentiments sur la distinction des div. manières …’. He wanted to depict the reality not as object of religious or mythological inspiration, but show its greatness and the beauty for its own sake; by this the protestant B. confessed to creation. ”

Their  rarity  also proven by Weigel’s sumptuous Art Catalogue (vols. 1-4, 1838-1850), missing the sheets of the set here.

On Le Blond see in Nagler under Johann le Blond: … supposedly the son of one J. Blond who engraved in Paris at the beginning of the 17^th century and run an art trade. With this son Jean Beall also mixes up our older le Blond. See their made date references not harmonizing with each other.
Offer no. 11,840 / EUR  192. (c. US$ 310.) + 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)