The Origin and Progress of Letters. An Essay in two parts, the first shewing when, and by whom letters were invented : the formation of the alphabets of various nations : their manner of writing, on what materials, and with what instruments men have written in different ages to the present time : wherein is considered the great utility of this art with regard to mankind : the second part consists of a compendious account of the most celebrated English penmen, with the titles and characters of the books they have published both from the rolling and letter press : interspersed with many interesting particulars by way of notes throughout the first part : and the second is a new species of biography never attempted before in English : the whole collected from undoubted authorities.
London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1763.
Price: $300.00
About the item
First edition. iv, 160, [8]; [4], 175, [1, ad]pp. 8vo. Sheep repaired with two pieces of straight grain morocco laid down. Heal, , The English Writing-Masters. p. 73.
Item #303215
The second part of this curious book, treating of calligraphy, contains particulars not elsewhere recorded of the lives of celebrated English penmen. "It is to William Massey that we owe a very great deal of our knowledge of the English writing-masters... It is the first and only book that deals with English writing-masters and their works... it is surprisingly complete and accurate."—Heal.