Unattributed "Vue De L'Université à Édimbourg"

Unattributed.  "Vue De L'Université à Édimbourg."

Paris: Basset. 18^th century.  9 ½ x 15 ¼ (image).  Engraving.  Original hand color.  Very good condition. 

During the late eighteenth century, there was a great demand for perspective views, also known as vue d’optique prints, showing the cities of the world.  These prints were intended to be projected in a viewing machine called an "optical machine," "zograscope" or "peepshow," that was used both in private and by peddlers in the streets of Europe.  The title, “Vue De Philadelphie,” which was printed in reverse at the top would have been seen right-way-round when the print was projected, while the text below would have been read by the operator of the machine, the two languages reflecting the international trade for these prints.  F.X. Habermann and B.F. Leizelt issued a large number of such prints in their “Collection des Prospects,” of which this is one of the more famous.  To save time and money, these publishers were less than scrupulous in using accurate images of the cities their prints purported to portray.