Ultra Scarce 1818 Edition, H. Williams' Elements of Drawing, Copper Engravings on Laid (Three Plates Lost) clever drawing 45 of the original 46

45 of the original 46 cards are here (the Yellow Triangle 3 card is missing) but if wanting to play one could just make a dummy by copying the Purple Triangle and coloring it yellow:) The game is akin traditional solitaire

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

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

Ultra Scarce 1818 Edition, H. Williams' Elements of Drawing, Copper Engravings on Laid (Three Plates Lost) clever drawing 45 of the original 46The 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!