Preserved in a fine contemporary binding of crimson morocco gilt that seems likely to have been specially commissioned by the artist from Pasqual Carsi y Vidal, a leading Madrid binder, a rare presentation set of Goya’s Los Caprichos prints sold for $500,000 (£393,700) at Christie’s New York (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on June 15.
Containing fine, early impressions of all 80 aquatints, probably printed by Rafael Esteve for the artist and all pulled using light sepia ink, it is one of just 27 first issue sets from the original edition of 300 copies.
Though nowadays highly desirable, the prints did not sell as well as had been hoped at the time – perhaps because they were available only from the perfume and liquor shop above which Goya had his home.