Hi JC,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Francis Wheatley exhibited a group of oil paintings called The Cries of London at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1795 — scenes of London street-sellers and itinerant trades. These paintings were Wheatley’s most popular works. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's website notes the paintings became widely known by engravings executed by Luigi Schiavonetti (Italian engraver active in London, 1765–1810). The engravings were issued individually from about 1793–1797 and later collected as a folio (often titled The Itinerant Trades of London).

Wheatley painted 14 “cries” for the series, but only 13 of them were engraved and widely published. The engraved plates were sold individually and sometimes assembled into a colored folio.

I can't find a complete (13 engraving) set coming to auction but even the most complete (9-10 or 11 engravings) rarely sell for more than $400; an individual print would likely bring only very modest sums, despite being in very good condition, probably at most in the $30-$50 range though I've seen individual ones listed for between $75 and $100 on sites such as eBay.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

Engraved by Luigi Schiavonetti After Francis Wheatley
"Milk Below Maids", from the "Cries of London" series
Published July 2nd 1793 by Colnaghi & Co., London
color stipple engraving on laid paper
18-11/16 in × 14-3/8 inches
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Unknown
$ 30-50*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia