The plate may have been in the sale by Clement de Jonghe (1679, as 57 Tobias tronitjen), but it was not part of any later sale or collection and is probably not in existence anymore.

Around 1630 Rembrandt made several drawings in red chalk of an old man with a long beard in the same period, probably as preparatory studies for his paintings of Saints and Prophets. Like one in the National Gallery of Art in Washington (Benesch 37), one in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm (Benesch 38), one in the Louvre that was formerly attributed to Gerard Dou (Benesch 39) and one in the Kupferstichkabinett (Benesch 41). He also made two more etchings of this subject in the period 1630-1631, see B 309 and B 325.

There are two copies in reverse. Copy A is by John Holland signed and dated JH f 1756 (84 x 78 mm, WB). Copy B is signed by Christian Reinhold and dated 1786 (his number 6, 83 x 78 mm).

The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Coppier and Singer.
Münz considers this etching to be by Van Vliet.

All authors list one state only. NH identifies a 2nd state, not by Rembrandt, in which the worn image is reworked with short strokes.

The only impression of the 2nd state is in the British Museum.

In the 1st state: Basel crosier (c. 1634-35); Foolscap; Man.

H 26, BB 30-10, G 269, M 29, Mz 304, RA 785, Cl 288, W 293, Bl 285, Du 288, CD 30
Baas 2015, p. 92-93;