MONS PIETATIS (frontispiece)

Frontispiece with a monument with several inscriptions and decorations: 'MONS / PIETA / TIS' above and towards the bottom: 'Alberti et Isabellae S.S. principu[m] / auspicijs feliciter / erectus'on the bottom the epigaph reads: 'Beatus qui intelligi super egenum et pauperem / in die mala liberabit eum dominus.' further address and publication date: 'BRUXELLAE / In officina Hub. Antonij Typ. Iur. / Ad Aquilam Auream / Anno 1619 / St. Sc. '. This engraving introduces a publication by Wenzel Coebergher (1560-1634) who was an architect, engeneer, antiquarian, a painter and even an economist. In 1618 he was appointed as General Superintendent of the public Pawn Shop: he was in fact in charge of letting people in Flanders acquainted with the 'Monti di Pietá' system which was developed in Italy. These pawnshops introduced the modern concept of allowing a credit loan against the deposition of a collateral. The publication in itself was a copy of the letter of appointment. l Etching and engraving on paper with very small margins; plate mark: 183 x 136 mm, total: 188 x 143 mm; hole due to burning on the left margin, slightly affecting the hatched background; staining on the bottom; very nice impression. On the verso traces of.