England
An original copperplate engraving dated 1808 .
Britannia hail! Hail happy Isle. Where joys inhabit pleasures smile: Great nurse of Heroes, seat of Charms. Supreme in Arts and First in Arms. Trade, Arts and Science flourish here, And bless each fair revolving year, Gay-smiling plentynreigns around And yellow harvests load the ground.
A poem by John Britton.
Calligraphy by Thomas Tomkins (1743-1816).
Engraved by Joseph Ellis.
Thomas Tomkins was a calligrapher. A friend of Samuel Johnson and Joshua Reynolds he used to demonstrate drawing a perfect circle with a quill pen. For many years he ran a school of calligraphy in Foster Lane, London. His works include ornamental titles to books including Thomas Macklin’s Bible and James Thompson’s The Seasons. Also a transcript of Horatio Nelson’s letter announcing his victory at the Battle of The Nile that was engraved and published.
Size: 28 x 43.7 cms or 11 x 17 1/4 inches.
This piece is from The Beauties of Writing, exemplified in a variety of plain and ornamental penmanship. Designed ‘to excite Emulation in this valuable Art’. Originally published in 1777, it was published again in 1808-9. It is from this later publication that this engraving is taken.
A rare engraving. I can find none for sale at this time.
Condition: Very Good. The surface is lightly marked. There is light surface wear but the engraving is generally, considering its age, clean and fresh.
