On History
An original engraving dated 1777.
‘Nothing doth more dignify a Person than Learning and no Learning makes a man more judicious than history which gives an antedote to Time, brings experience without grey hairs and makes us wise at the cost and expense of Others’.
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 most specifically by a dark spot to the top right nd some dark marks along the left hand edge. There is light surface wear but the engraving is generally, considering its age, clean and fresh.
