[Billiards] Two prints: (1) "Visus. La Vuë. La Vista. Das Gesicht"

Cont. handcol. engr. optical view, 31.5 x 41.5 cm, Augsb., G.B. Probst, ca. 1780. Waterst. in upper right corner and part of right margin, trimmed on/ just outside the borderline. Nice and lively view, showing a large hall w. 2 centrally placed very large billiards tables with pockets, surrounded by smaller tables on which other games are played. The first known billiards table with pockets was created around 1775 in England, the pockets at first meant as hazards, evolving the gameplay significantly. The pockets became goals in themselves later. (2) "Billard politique". Cont. handcol. lithogr. caricature, 23.5 x 34 cm, w. address "Lith. de Houtman á Utrecht", (ca. 1830). Creased/ w. folds in (wide) blank margins, remnants of former mounting at upper corners verso. Rare.

(total 2) *Part of the (very extensive) British Museum description: "European sovereigns (wearing crowns) and others watch a game of billiards between the Tsar, the principal figure, and the Sultan. Nicholas (left), a dandy in uniform, is about to make a stroke which will inevitably pocket the Turkish ball (...)." The English version by William Heath was published by Thomas McLean in 30 September 1829.