Ultra Scarce 1818 Edition, H. Williams' Elements of Drawing, Copper Engravings on Laid (Three Plates Lost) clever drawing The box is very well

The box is very well worn

You know I love Spencerian calligraphy--all those birds and flourishes and beautiful lettering--but what makes this especially special

like a secret sweetheart--though I imagine this was made to bring home to a wife destined to spend many hours ironing

but with its narrow head and long handle think it would also prove useful for all sorts of tasks

Ultra Scarce 1818 Edition, H. Williams' Elements of Drawing, Copper Engravings on Laid (Three Plates Lost) clever drawing The box is very wellThe only other copies I can find of such an early edition of Henry Williams' Elements of Drawing are in museum and special library collections. William's method was a highly influential and widely adopted one though one not infrequently sees old charcoal and graphite drawings done by students in academy following the instruction on these very pages. And in fact it was fairly recently reprinted by Windham press available in paper back or as an e book!