[ Paul Sandby, artist and engraver. ] Pencil notes by 'Paul Sandby Esqr.', over 'Monthly Return of the Classes under the First drawing Master at the Royal Military Academy'. With portrait of Sandby, engraved by H. Landseer from a drawing by W. Evans

MANUSCRIPT: 1p., folio. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium. On good watermarked laid paper, with pencil text written over an elegantly printed page divided into five columns ('Class', 'Studies', 'Order', 'Names', 'Remarks'), headed (with manuscript additions in square brackets): 'Monthly Return of the Classes under the First drawing Master at the Royal Military Academy. [March] 1st. 17[39 Paul Sandby Esqr.]'. The manuscript text is written both across the page and lengthwise. At the foot is a stave of music, with the words 'Violoncelloe [sic] de la music militaire'. Above this are Latin quotations, a list of musical instruments, and what appear to be notes towards a letter in bad French, regarding a meeting in London, ending 'demain matin a la point du jour vous somviendrez de m'eveiller de mon matin'. As Sandby's entry in the Oxford DNB explains, 'In 1768 he was appointed chief drawing master at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, at a salary of £150 per annum, a post that he retained until his retirement in 1796'. These notes are presumably literary doodlings by him on waste paper, but may also have been executed by one of his pupils. ENGRAVING: Paper dimensions 26.5 x 21.5 cm. Caption: 'PAUL SANDBY, ESQ. R.A. | From an original Picture by SIR WILLIAM BEECHEY, R.A. in his own Possession. | Drawn by W. Evans, Engraved by H. Landseer. | PUBLISHED DEC. 4 1809 BY T. CADELL & W. DAVIES STRAND LONDON.' In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. An excellent likeness, full of character.