Again, there was lately a good deal of laughter caused by one of the whims of the German Emperor. It appears that his artistic eye had been offended by the incompleteness of a fine headless torso which was brought to the fatherland some years since. Everything, he was aware, could be made in Germany, so what more natural than to offer a prize for the best completion of the work of a Phidias or a Praxiteles? Finis coronat opus, and the sculptors of Germany were called upon to compete. None of the results, however, satisfied His Imperial Majesty, and two of the artists have been commissioned to try again. Would it be lese-majestie to suggest that there is only one head in Germany that would prove quite acceptable? I present the idea to the competitors.
Enough has been written to show that the pursuit of the palimpsest plate is sport of the very finest for the collector, for it is a sport which does not cease with the running of the quarry to earth. {244}
I have reproduced, without comment, opposite pages [244] and 246, and on pages 245, 247, and 249, a few more of these adapted copperplates for the sake of any one who may be fortunate enough to possess either the original or the palimpsest. He will find it no bad sport to go hunting for its fellow.
Undescribed palimpsest plate. (First state)
Undescribed palimpsest plate.
(Second state.)
Aan den Experten Hollandichen Hoofd-Smith.
(The plate in its first state)
