BICKHAM GEORGE A Short Description of the American Colonies

Sale 2263 - Lot 77

Price Realized: $ 900

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500

BICKHAM, GEORGE. A Short Description of the American Colonies Belonging to the Crown of Great Britain. Engraved plates numbered 164 to 185, and 187 to 190. Folio, modern buckram; minor foxing, short repaired tears to several plates. London, 1747 [1749]

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

Bickham was an influential English writing master best known for his Universal Penman. The present work is found both separately and appended to a larger publication titled The British Monarchy, issued in parts starting in 1743. The plates consist mostly of engraved calligraphic text, and 15 plates also include related engraved vignettes. The first 21 plates comprise the work on America. Plates 187 and 188 (and the missing plate 186) 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." Variously described with 21, 24, 26, or 34 plates; this copy has 26. ESTC N22616; European Americana 749/28; JCB III:895; Sabin 80618 (and see 5222).