"Pasquins Windkaart. Op De Windnegotie" - Playing Cards Spielkarten Cartes A Jouer / Kartenspiel Game Deck Jeu Des Cartes / Mississippi Bubble John Law Alte Spiele / Jeux / Games

Copper engraving. Size: ca. 52 x 44,5 cm. – with old folds, otherwise in very good condition. || Kupferstich. Sehr seltene Spielkarten aus dem 18. Jh. – mit alten Faltspuren, sonst gut erhalten. This very rare engraving shows a complete set of 52 playing cards depicting a significant event in the financial history known as the „Mississippi Bubble" - a financial scheme in 18th-century France. During this notorious meltdown, characterized by speculative excess, stock traders earned the moniker "wind salesmen", leading to the designation of these cards as "wind cards." Organized in 6 rows of nine cards each, the cards follow the French suit system featuring hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each card shows an illustration along with 2 verses in Dutch mocking John Law (1671-1729), the architect of the Mississippi Bubble, the South Sea Company, and the avarice and folly of investors. Notably, John Law himself is portrayed as the King of Hearts. John Law, a Scottish financier, established the Banque Generale (Central Bank) in France and gained control of Louisiana, founding the „Compagnie de la Louisiane d'Occident" in 1717. Law devised an intricate scheme to exploit the region's purported riches, sparking widespread enthusiasm for investment across Europe. This fervor led to the emergence of numerous overseas enterprises, including the English South Sea Company and several smaller firms in the Dutch Republic. Share prices soared amidst frenzied speculation until the bubble burst in 1720. Speculators rushed to sell, triggering a collapse in share prices and the bankruptcy of the company. Sprache: Niederländisch Gewicht in Gramm: 25