Catalog Archive
Auction 128, Lot 926

"[Lot of 3 - Calligraphy]", Bickham, George

Subject: Calligraphy

Period: 1735 (circa)

Publication: Universal Penman

Color: Hand Color

Size:
7.5 x 12.3 inches
19.1 x 31.2 cm
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George Bickham was on the most famous calligraphers of the 18th century. He specialized in copy books and business texts. In 1733 Bickham produced the Universal Penman, which was designed as a practical penmanship instruction and copy-book for the Man of Business. In addition to the plates designed by Bickham, this monumental anthology included the work of 25 contemporary writing masters. These engravings cover a myriad of subjects from poetry and song, festivities, commerce, script pictures, cherubs, griffins, alphabets, decorative panels, cartouches, and calligraphic flourishes, etc. Bickham also published The British Monarchy, which is a collection of 188 plates of historical notes with 43 plates of views of English and Welsh counties. They are called views rather than maps although they are presented as map-like perspectives with major towns marked. Bickham's son, George Bickham, Jr., was also a calligrapher and engraver and worked with his father on several of his publications.

Three interesting leaves with a business theme. The first is a decorative dedication to merchants; Merchants of great Benefit to the Publick. Our British Merchants Foreign Trade pursue, They vend our Goods, and bring us Riches too. The other two leaves are pure calligraphy designed for businessmen to copy; A Bricklayer' Bill and a Bill of Sale.

References:

Condition: A

There is some minor soil and some light spots in the blank margins.

Estimate: $120 - $160

Sold for: $90

Closed on 5/20/2009

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