The Origin and Progress of Writing

Humphreys, Henry Noel (1810-79). The origin and progress of the art of writing. viii, 176pp. 28 lithographed plates, 13 in color. London: David Bogue, 1854. 256 x 170 mm. Pierced high-relief papier-mâché binding over crimson paper; boxed. Rebacked preserving original spine, a few cracks and chips to the fragile papier-mâché, minor foxing, first and last leaves browned but very good. Ownership signature on title. Second issue, with title-page dated 1854 and the imprint of David Bogue.; first issue is dated 1853 and bears the imprint of Ingram, Cooke & Co. "Twenty-eight plates supplement Humphreys's text, which is further enriched with woodcut diagrams and initial letters. Twelve of the plates are chromolithographed . . . This book was attractive to general readers for the clarity of its prose, the beauty of the chromolithography, and the sculptural fascination of the original black papier-mâché cover . . . By introducing the general reader to the study of ancient writing, Humphreys contributed to the growing public awareness of manuscript illustration and further stimulated Victorian bibliomania" (Beckwith, p. 3). A. Beckwith, Victorian Bibliomania: The Illuminated Book in 19th-Century Britain, no. 17 (first issue). King, Victorian Decorated Trade Bindings 1830-1880, no. 66 (first issue). .…