Portrait of King James I by Willem van de Passe (c.1597/8-1636/7)

Willem van de Passe (circa 1597/8 - 1636/7) 
King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) (1566-1625)
Engraving, Circa 1625  
On laid paper 
Dimensions: 21.2 cm x 13.7 cm (image); 21.7 x 14 cm (plate); 19.5 x 32 cm (sheet (approx.))

Portrait of King James I, bust length, turned to right, with broad rimmed hat and ruff, in an oval cartouche; Royal Arms and Garter below Engraving. Lettered around oval "POTENTISS: IACOBUS .... DEFENSOR". Above "BEATI PACIFICI". Below portrait "Toutch not mine Anoynted". On a scroll below, four lines "The right high ... Defendor of the Faith". Original publication details of "Sould by W. Webb in Cornchill right against Birch: lane" expunged.

State: Third state of 3. Used in this state in "History of Great Britain" by Arthur Wilson, published in 1653. First published c. 1625. Reference: Hollstein 44.

See NPG D25690 and D25691 (where attributed to Crispijn de Passe the Elder).

Printed with full margins on a sheet of laid paper. Fritting to all sides of the sheet. One closed tear to the right hand which extends to just within the margin of the plate. Sheet stained and watermarked as expected. A good impression but the face lightly inked.