Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

The complete album containing 81 etchings by Rembrandt and 41 other etchings after or in the manner of Rembrandt, circa 1807-1809, with the title page and a list of contents, the plates printed directly onto the pages, published by H. -L. Basan, on paper with a 'GD' watermark, bound in mottled blue boards with green paper spine

The album contains the following plates by Rembrandt in this order: B. 290, 19, 20, 17, 275, 321, 344, 37, 33, 118, 41, 119, 131, 71, 126, 295, 200, 63, 47, 39, 45, 124, 152, 97, 102, 195, 237, 26, 151, 179, 91, 365, 368, 130, 66, 349, 164, 68, 72, 53, 92, 55, 64, 125, 43, 170, 133, 57, 128, 80, 123, 168, 136, 113, 196, 22, 283, 176, 70, 69, 46, 34, 94, 205, 276, 194, 105, 277, 270, 87, 83, 279, 98, 273, 272, 44, 49, 73, 192, 99, 81 (the other 41 prints integrated within this sequence). With margins, a pale water stain at edge of inside pages at centre (only occasionally extending into the image), pale scattered foxmarks, some pale paper discoloration mainly at extreme edges of sheets, a few handling creases, pages numbered in pencil at lower right corners recto, other minor defects, the plates protected with a thin sheet of tissue paper, the spine lacking, some wear and occasional paper losses at edges of boards.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The continued appreciation and interest in Rembrandt's printed work can be seen in the posthumous printing of the artist's original copper plates. In the eighteenth century, Claude-Henri Watelet (1718-86) sold his collection of around eighty plates by Rembrandt to the Parisian print dealer and publisher Pierre-François Basan (1723-97).

In 1789 the 'Basan Receuil' was published, comprising impressions taken from Rembrandt's original plates. This landmark publication compiled the first survey of its kind of the artist's printed oeuvre, serving as both a special art collector's object as well as an illustrated catalogue raisonné.

Early editions of the receuil are characterised by the high quality of the impressions, compared to the significant re-workings of the plates for later editions. The present impression of Faust (B. 270) is before the radical rework that appears in later editions. The etchings were also printed directly onto the album's pages, as is the case in this present example, rather than pasted individually onto thick, laid paper. The order of the prints in the albums tend to differ and are not in a strict sequence.

Pierre-François Basan's son, Henry-Louis (d. before 1819) continued to publish the edition under the same title between 1807-09, such was its popularity. The plates were then passed onto the Paris publisher Auguste Jean (d. 1820) in around 1810 and after his death, to his widow.