Afbeeldinge van't zeer vermaarde Eiland Geks-Kop. . .

The central map of the island of Madhead is contained in an elaborately engraved cartouche surrounded by scenes of ill-fated investors storming the offices of John Law's company in a town and on the right is a land-vessel or ship with wheels (symbol of a far-fetched scheme) which has a flag saying "To Viane."
Above the two scenes are small vignettes of a man near an empty treasure chest and in the other a man weeps on a street.

The map itself (295 x 230mm.) is in the shape of a man's head with the ears of a jackass, wearing a fool's cap.
Rivers are used to define the face, the cap, and the jackass's ears, and are marked with the names of those running through towns involved in the speculative schemes of the period. Centrally located is the town of 'Quinquempoix', whilst other smaller locales and harbours are named appropriately. These include Blind fort, Bubble river, and Mad-House.
The islets of Sadness, Poverty and Despair surround the head. The map rests on a pedestal bearing a cartouche with the title.

The Dutch title translates as, Representation of the very famous island of Mad-head, lying in the sea of shares, discovered by Mr. Law-rens, and inhabited by a collection of all kinds of people, to whom are given the general name shareholders.Page taken from "Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid : vertoonende de opkomst, voortgang en ondergang der actie, bubbel en windnegotie, in Vrankryk, Engeland, en de Nederlanden, gepleegt in den jaare MDCCXX."
The text reads in English : New Year's gift perfumed by the musk of fools' horses and dedicated to Pecunia, goddess of money, by the prince of stocks, or viceroy of Plutus, nourishing his ill-placed love in a new hiding place.
A caricature in prose and verse satirizing the first truly international speculative crisis in the history of financial capitalism, the "Mississippi scheme" (1718-1720) of the French Compagnie d'Occident and the speculations its stock that led to the complete ruin of many of its over-eager French, Dutch and English shareholders.
John Law (1671-1729), the son of an Edinburgh banker and successful financier who established the Banque Générale in Franc in 1715, founded the Compagnie de l'Occident for the exploitation of the resources of French Louisiana after Antoine Crozat had surrendered his charter in 1717. Law's reputation caused the stock to sell readily, and the organization soon enlarged the scope of its activities by absorbing other commercial companies, its name than being changed to the 'Company of the Indies'. Enormous profits were anticipated…and the increasing demand for its stock led to wild speculation. The anticipated immense and immediate profits were not realized, and soon the scheme revealed itself as a purely speculative venture. In 1720 the company failed, the 'bubble' bust, and the stockholders lost their entire investment, many being completely ruined.
You may read more about "Het Groote Tafereel der Dwaasheid", or "The Great Mirror of Folly" or view several of the seventy-four plates from this book.