ALPHABET

[George Cruikshank, illustrator and engraver associated with Dickens.] Five original loose engravings from Cruikshank’s ‘Comic Alphabet’, and four steel engravings from ‘The Comic Almanac’.

Author: 
George Cruikshank, illustrator and engraver associated with Charles Dickens
Publication details: 
The five ‘Comic Alphabet’ engravings from a work published in London in 1836. The four ‘Comic Almanac’ engravings among those published in London in that journal, in the 1830s and 1840s.
£120.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. ONE: Five engravings from the ‘Comic Alphabet’. All about 8 x 12 cm. Uncoloured. Originally part of a long single piece of paper, fan-folded. In good condition, lightly aged. Two laid down on pieces of grey paper (cut from an album).

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[ Isaac Taylor, philologist ] Autograph Letter Signed Isaac Taylor to unnamed correspondent who has invited him to give an account of sll the alphabets in the world.

Author: 
Isaac Taylor [ Isaac Taylor (1829–1901), son of Isaac Taylor, philologist, toponymist, and Anglican canon of York (from 1885).
Publication details: 
[Embossed[ Settrington Rectory, York, 11 Dec. 1886.
£45.00

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, formerly tipped into an album (hinges survive), good condition. I do not think it would be easy, or even possible to give an account of sll the alphabets in the world within the limits you name. The Indian alphabet alone would more than occupy the whole space. But if you merely require a sketch of the history of the oman (i.e. the English) alphabet - with a brief notice of the relations to it of a few of the leading alphabets - such as the Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac & Greek, it might be possible. But if you would kindly send me.

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[David Diringer, book historian ] Autograph Letter Signed "David (DIRINGER)" ro "Mr [Marcus prob.] Adams, Royal and children's photographers.

Author: 
David Diringer, book historian, linguist, "alphabetologist", palaeographer and writer, wartime "enemy alien".
Publication details: 
[Headed Notepaper, heading with line through it] University Combination Room, The Old Schools, Cambridge {added] "as from 50 St Barnabas's Road, Cambridge, Dec. 1957.
£100.00

Two pages, 8vo, fold mark (stained), mainly good, text clear and complete. "My dear Mr. Adams, | Once more I hoped to be able to present to you as my Christmas present my forthcoming book (The Illuminated Book [underlined]). Unfortunately, its pubication has been postponed till Febr. 1958. | Hence, I cannot but send to you my warmest greeetings & my best wishes of A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY 1958. | I do hope to be able to meet you somewhere in London.

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[Simplified Spelling Board, New York.] Twenty-five printed circulars, numbered 1-21, 23-25 (including two versions of 16), promoting English spelling reform.

Author: 
Simplified Spelling Board, New York [Thomas R. Lounsbury; Mark Twain; Calvin Thomas; Brander Matthews; Henry Holt; Burt G. Wilder; William Hayes Ward, Editor of The Independent; William H. Maxwell]
Publication details: 
The twenty-five items printed by the Simplified Spelling Board, 1 Madison Avenue, New York, between 30 April 1907 and 30 September 1911.
£950.00

The Simplified Spelling Board was founded in 1906, funded by Andrew Carnegie, and counted Mark Twain and President Theodore Roosevelt, and the English lexicographers James A. H. Murray, Walter W. Skeat and Joseph Wright among its members. The present collection of the Board's Circulars consists of 25 uniform items, all unbound and stapled. The collection is in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with occasional wear. Stamps, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London.

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[Two printed pamphlets and a handbill.] A Reformed Alphabet designed to facilitate the Art of Learning to Read. [bound up with] The Reformed Reading Primer. [and] The International Alphabet, by Ralph Winnington Leftwich, M.D.

Author: 
R. W. Leftwich [Ralph Winnington Leftwich], M.D. [Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., London, and at Bath and New York; linguistics; phonetics]
Publication details: 
[Item One.] New York: Isaac Pitman & Sons, 33 Union Square. London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., 1 Amen Corner, E.C. And at Bath. [1898] [Item Two:] Undated. [Item Three:] Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., London and at Bath and New York. [Undated]
£100.00

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Stamp and label of the Education Department Reference Library, London. ONE: Pamphlet titled 'A Reformed Alphabet'. 10pp., 12mo. Stapled in grey printed wraps. The first four pages carry 'Phonetic Notation. The Reformed Alphabet. For teaching purposes only. Devised by R. W. Leftwich, M.D.' The last six pages carry an essay by Leftwich, beginning: 'The art of learning to read English, instead of being so easy as to form a stepping-stone to higher accomplishments, is really a very difficult task.

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