Jun 12 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2708 -

Sale 2708 - Lot 108

Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(HISTORY.) George Bickham. A Short Description of the American Colonies Belonging to the Crown of Great Britain. Engraved plates numbered 164-190. Folio, early 20th century ¼ morocco; minor foxing, folds to final leaf; modern bookplate and owners' signatures on front endpapers. London, 1747 [1749]
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Additional Details

Bickham was an influential English writing master best known for his Universal Penman. His "The British Monarchy" was issued in parts starting in 1743; the concluding section was "A Short Description of the American Colonies Belonging to the Crown of Great Britain," a work with its own title page which was also issued separately as seen here. The plates consist mostly of engraved calligraphic text, and many of them also include related engraved maps or vignettes. Plates 164-185 are related to America, with several illustrations. Plate 186 relates to the King's holdings in Germany; 187 and 188 describe England's colonies in Africa and India, while the final two plates (sometimes not considered part of this work) demonstrate the alphabet in six different calligraphic hands. The title page cites a 1747 act of Parliament, but the colophon on plate 188 reads "1749." The "American Colonies" is variously described with 21, 24, 26, or 34 plates; this copy has 27. ESTC N22616; European Americana 749/28; JCB III:895; Sabin 80618.

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