Natural writing in all the hands, with variety of ornament
By: by George Shelley, Master of the writing school in Christ's Hospital ; G. Bickham sculpsit
Publisher: Printed and sold by Thomas Bowles in St. Paul's Church Yard, and Iohn Bowles, at Mercer's Hall in Cheap Side
Published: 1728
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 30
Subjects: Copybooks; Early works to 1800; Penmanship
Notes: The only dated title which has John Bowles residing at this address was printed in 1728 (all of his other imprints have him located either at Stocks Market or Cornhill).

Consists of engraved frontispiece portrait (plate 1); engraved title-page (plate 2); dedication (plate 3); single letterpress leaf ([2] p.); and 27 engraved samples (plates 4-30).

First published in 1710; in the first edition Shelley is not described as the writing master at Christ's Hospital on the title-page and the plates are not numbered.

Plate 30 dated 1709.

Portrait after an original by B. Lens.

Letterpress leaf contains recommendations (recto) and publishers' advertisements (verso).

Bonacini, C. Arte scrittorie, 1708.

Heal, A. English writing-masters, p. 166-167.

Massey, W. Origin and progress of letters, Pt. II, p. 133-134.