EXAMPLES OF ENGLISH HANDWRITING 1150 - 1750 - With Transcripts and Translations [Part I: From Essex Parish Records, Part II: From Other Essex Archives]

First edition - published as Essex Record Office publication No. 21. A fascinating study of the history and development of handwriting in England, across the period 1150 to 1750. The documents used for this work were all from Essex parish records and other archives to be found in Essex. Illustrated with a frontispiece, twenty-eight plates, and in-text illustrations. ***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the front board. Boards clean and unmarked. Head of spine and corners slightly creased. Internally also near fine with a small contemporary ownership name in ink to the top of the front free endpaper. No creases or tears. Pages clean. Printed on glossy nice quality photo paper. No dustwrapper issued - most copies were paper-bound and priced at ten shillings. This is one of the clothbound copies which were priced at 12s. 6d. - as stated on the title page. ***iv prelim-pages plus 33 pages of plates and accompanying translations, with a short list of books for detailed study and reference at the back of the book. 252mm x 154mm. ***'The plates in this collection, ranging in date from the late thirteenth to the late eighteenth century, show a wide variety of scripts and very different kinds of skill and formality. The two medieval deeds [Plates I and II] are the work of professional scribes with a strict training. Several of the later examples are the work to whom of writing was a labour, as we should expect in a collection made from parish records. [Quote taken from Part I: Examples from Essex Parish Records] ***First impression of the true first edition in the scarcer cloth binding, in nice bright collectable condition. A rich and detailed primary source history, of interest to academics researching handwriting, and local historians researching the history of Essex. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…