JF Ptak

This print has been hanging here and there at home for many years–it has always been amusing, and somehow warming. 

“A _M of A, and Dealer in Curiosities” was “published as the act directs 30 July 1839”, is an etchign which depicts,
I guess, a lettered/educated man who winds up as a seller of scientific and intellectual bric-a-brac and interesting bits, perhaps wonderful natural history/physics materials, perhaps trivialities.  He seems satisfied to me, regardless of the little man over his shoulder making a face, a reminder perhaps to not take the curiosities too seriously.  [There’s also another face off to the right, peering into the image (see below).]

The Record of Arts & Science that our dealer is reading has some interesting parts to it:, including something on new mechanical flight and a new diving bell–it would’ve been more interesting historically if it had mentioned the brand-new Daguerre invention.