To Mr William Butler. Friendship. Calligraphy by Thomas Tomkins. From The Beauties of Writing. Published in 1808. Size: 28 x 43.7 cms

Friendship.

An original copperplate engraving dated 1808.

‘To Mr William Butler, The Ingenious Author of Excercises on the Globes and other valuable Works This Specimen is Inscribed.
Friendship is a pleasing attraction of the mind towards the mind we esteem or the amiable perfections we admire, producing a mutual inclination between two persons to promote each others interest, knowledge, virtue and happiness.
The star whose radiant beams adorn with vivid light the rising morn. The season changed with milder ray Cheers the calm hour of parting day. So Friendship, of the generous breast, The earliest and the latest quest, In youthful prime and ardour glows, And sweetens life’s serener close.

From Rays of Genius Volume 1.

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 generally lightly marked. There is a dark mark - perhaps ink - at the base of the image and a darker spot of foxing at the bottom right.