The mysteries of the pen in fifteen hands unfolded
Subtitle: or, The undeniable rules and truths of the pen to be observed in all hands of England : ... There is likewise added a certain and easy method of expressing all names in ciphers ...
By: By Edward Smith, M.A. ; J. Nutting sculpsit
Publisher: [s.n.]
Published: 1715
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 12
Subjects: Copybooks; Early works to 1800; Penmanship
Other titles: Undeniable rules and truths of the pen
Notes: The dedicatee, Felix Calvert, addressed as M.P., served in Parliament from 1713 to 1716.

Engraved throughout; consists of title-page (unnumbered), dedication plate (leaf 2), General rules and On the foundation of letters (4-7),and six leaves of samples (8-13).

The Newberry owns a copy in which the title-page is numbered '3,' suggesting that the Harvard copy is not lacking the third plate, as previously thought.

The Newberry copy contains four leaves of letterpress; it is uncertain whether the Harvard copy ever appeared with this letterpress.

Heal, A. English writing-masters, p. 175-176.

Massey, W. Origin and progress of letters, Pt. II, p. 137-138.

Becker, D.P. Practice of letters, 201.