Original etching printed in black ink on laid paper bearing the “Double Headed Eagle” watermark (Ash/Fletcher 15).

Signed with the artist’s monogram and dated in the plate lower right RHL 1632 (the last two numerals are reversed).

A superb 17th century/lifetime impression of Bartsch and New Hollstein’s third and final state, Usticke’s first state of two, of this rare etching (characterized by G.W. Nowell-Usticke in his 1967 catalogue Rembrandt’s Etchings: States and Values as “a scarce plate,” and assigned his scarcity rating of “R” [75-125 impressions extant in that year]), printed after the addition of the parallel diagonal shading to the foliage behind the head of the rat catcher but before the strengthening of the outline of the back of his hat, the slipt stroke through his right foot printing strongly and the distant cottages to the right clear, showing no signs of wear.

Catalog: Bartsch 121 iii/iii, Hind 97, Biorklund-Barnard 32-C, Usticke 121 i/ii; New Hollstein 111 iii/iii.


In excellent condition, printed on a sheet with small margins outside the platemark on all four sides.