Sale: 430 / Rare Books, May 23./24. 2016 in Hamburg Lot 72

 

72
Thomas Astle
Origin and progress of writing. 1784
Estimate:
€ 500 / $ 540
Sold:
€ 624 / $ 673

(incl. surcharge)
Astle, Thomas, The origin and progress of writing, as well hieroglyphic as elementary, illustrated by engravings taken from marbles, manuscripts and charters, ancient and modern. Mit 31 (7 teilkolor.) Kupfern auf 29 Tafeln (7 gefaltet). London, Selbstverlag 1784. Späterer Halblederband mit floral. Goldstempeln auf dem Rücken und KGoldschnitt. 4to. 1 Bl., VII, XXV, 235 S.

Erste Ausgabe der schönen illustrierten Monographie zur Kunst des Schreibens. - Hauptwerk des englischen Historikers und Handschriftenexperten Thomas Astle (1735-1803; u. a. sammelte er die Manuskripte der späteren Stowe Collection, die 1883 ins Britisch Museum wanderte. "Thomas Astle was an eminent English antiquary, who paid especial attention to the deciphering of ancient manuscripts. He was Keeper of the Records, and was engaged in the preparation of the Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts at the British Museum .. The chapter on the origin of printing occupies 15 pages. Considerable stress laid on the probability that printing originated in China" (Bigmore/Wyman). - Tafeln tls. mit leichtem Abklatsch, 1 Tafel angeschmutzt und mit hinterl. Randeinrissen, Rücken etw. dunkelfl. und mit kl. Stoßspur. Breitrandiger und weitgehend sauberer Druck des gesuchten und aufwendig gedruckten Werkes.

Bigmore/Wyman I, 20. - Bonacini 104. - Wintermantel 29. - Graesse I, 241. - Vgl. UCBA I, 48. - LGB I, 157.

First edition of the lavishly illustrated monography on the art of writing. With 31 (7 partly colored) coppers on 29 plates (7 folded). Later half calf binding with floral gilt tooling on spine and top edge gilt. - Plates with slight offsetting in places, 1 plate soiled and with rebacked marginal splits, spine somewhat stained and with small scuffmark. Broad-margined and largely clean edition of the sought-after work in sumptuous print.




72
Thomas Astle
Origin and progress of writing. 1784
Estimate:
€ 500 / $ 540
Sold:
€ 624 / $ 673

(incl. surcharge)