Nov 21, 2024 - Sale 2687

Sale 2687 - Lot 152

Unsold
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(HISTORY.) George Bickham. The British Monarchy / A Short Description of the American Colonies Belonging to the Crown of Great Britain. Engraved plates numbered 1-188 (incomplete) plus two unnumbered plates; and 164-190 (nearly complete). Folio, the first in contemporary paneled calf with minor wear, and the second in modern buckram; first volume lacking plates 95, 162, 163, 171, 179, 181, 184, 187, 189 and 190, second volume lacking plate 186, minor foxing, small repairs to several plates. London, 1743 and 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. The plates consist mostly of engraved calligraphic text, and many of them also include related engraved maps or vignettes.

Offered here are an incomplete volume of "British Monarchy," and a nearly complete volume of "American Colonies" lacking only one plate (present in the first volume). Between the two, they are lacking only plate 95 (on Suffolk in England), and most of the American plates are duplicated.

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 (usually 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 26. ESTC N22616; European Americana 749/27-28; JCB III:895; Sabin 5222n and 80618.