UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

It was drawn entirely in drypoint, and early impressions were printed with richly inked burr ().

After initial proofs there was a print-run of about a dozen impressions. The first proofs were printed in black ink on cream laid paper watermarked 'De Erven De Blauw' (); and on a sheet of ivory laid paper taken from an old book (). Most impressions are on ivory 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with the Arms of Amsterdam watermark (, ), including some sheets clearly removed from a book (, ); plus some with a countermark, possibly 'HD' (, , ) the latter also probably taken from a book.

One impression - of the seventh state, reproduced above - was worked over extensively in wash, but the suggested alterations were not made, since the drypoint was fading considerably.

However, at the request of Whistler's sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), three impressions were printed in 1931 by Nathaniel Sparks (1880-1956), who commented that the plate was 'greatly worne' [sic] and that he used 'Different papers - One with pailings others with no watermark -' 8 The 'One with pailings' was presumably 'Pro Patria' watermarked laid paper. These impressions were presumably of the eighth and final state but they have not been located and were probably destroyed.