The copperplate was in the sale by Pieter de Haan (1767, lot 44) and was sold via Fouquet to Claude-Henri Watelet. It then became part of the set of plates subsequently owned and used for printing Recueils by Pierre-François Basan, Henri-Louis Basan (his nr 1418), Auguste Jean (ca 1809), Veuve Jean, Auguste and Michel Bernard (1846), Alvin-Beaumont (1906) and Robert Lee Humber (1937). It was sold at the Artemis sale in London (1993) to Dr H.Berger (Beverly Hills). The plate was used to produce approx. 2500 prints as the Millennium Impressions in 1998. In 2003 it was sold, together with seven other plates, to Park West Galleries in Southfield, Michigan. They actively marketed impressions of this plate and probably printed many more.
For more details see the separate chapter on the Millennium Impressions.

The inventory of Clement de Jonghe (1679) included a plate called schipr Gerbrandts soontjen (Captain Gerbrandt’s son). Several authors think that this entry refers to this etching, although nothing is known about this captain or his relationship with Rembrandt. This view is not supported in the New Hollstein.

The model in this etching clearly resembles the man in Man wearing a cross and chain (B 261). Jan Garff has suggested the sitter is Jan Lievens.

New Hollstein lists five states, only the first by Rembrandt. Most other authors list three states, White-Boon two, Nowell-Usticke four, from his 3rd state there are later impressions by Watelet, P.Basan, Basan, Jean, Bernard and Beaumont.
In the 1^st state (NH, WB, R394) the shadow of the head on the wall is even throughout. There is a small area of unworked plate along the top margin*. In later impressions two accidental scratches are visible°. A long one from the left eye, over the hair to the right and a diagonal one on the left cheek.
In the 2^nd state (NH, WB final, R395) most of the shadow is heavily reworked. The long scratch is no longer visible. The white area in the top is filled in*. The pupil in the left eye is now visible, it was covered before (JM). According to Hinterding not by Rembrandt, who rarely made such corrections.
In the 3^rd state (NH, R396, NU Watelet, P.Basan, Jean) the plate is retouched by Watelet, who added the inscription Watelet restaur.
In the 4^th state (NH) the inscription is removed again.
In the 5^th state (NH/4^th state NU Bernard, Beaumont) the entire background is covered with diagonal right-to-left shading and in later impressions reworked with fine lines. The pupil of the right eye shows two thick lines close together.

An impression of the 1st state in the British Museum is on Japanese paper.

Nowell-Usticke considers the impressions in the Recueil de Basan to be fine.
Recueil de H.L. Basan – Page 9                  NH: 3^rd state of V/WB: 2^nd and final state.
A good impression, the inscription by Watelet in the lower left corner well visible.

Recueil de A. Beaumont –  Sheet 49        NH: 5^th and final state/WB: 2^nd and final state.
A pretty good impression.

In the 1st state: Basilisk A’.a; (c. 1640-47), Foolscap with five-pointed collar K.zz (c. 1651); Foolscap ZZ.zz;

H 190, BB 41-M, G 135, M 269, Mz 63, RA 394-397, Cl 136, W 137, Bl 104, Du 135, CD 136
Hinterding 2008, p. 276-277;

New Hollstein: 1st state of V/White-Boon: 1st state of II
A good impression on laid paper. The lid of the left eye is covering the pupil, confirming a first state.
Sheet: 91/90 x 82 mm, thread margins of ca. 1 mm. on three sides (+5%)
No watermark, horizontal chain lines at approx. 24 mm.