I love this splendid view of early Philadelphia prosperity. It shows a particularly abundant “harvest” of livestock on the way to market. We are told that it took 100 carts to transport 86,731 pounds of beef, pork, lamb, etc., all of which was sold within 24 hours. The view was drawn from Mathew Carey & Son’s book shop, located at the southeast corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets. The triumphant butchers, wearing the full regalia of their trade, process through the streets cheered on by onlookers romping along beside and hanging out of upper story windows. Faces, movements, clothes, are all rendered in loving detail, as are the facades of the buildings. For the bustling moment it records, as well as the execution, this is one of my favorite early Philadelphia prints.

It was the work of one of the most popular artists of the period. He was John L. Krimmel, a German artist who settled in Philadelphia in 1810, and set about painting portraits, miniatures, and good-natured street and domestic scenes. This engraving was one of his most celebrated works; it was issued in three different editions, of which this is the first, an aquatint by Joseph Yeager.

The Philadelphia Print Shop, 8441 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19118. (215) 242-4750, philaprint@philaprintshop.com, www. philaprintshop.com.