Arithmetic exercise book of Anna Dowe [manuscript] 1687.

Anna Dowe, her Book. Scholler to Eliz. Beane, Mrs. in the Art of Writing, anno 1687.

England, 1687.

1 volume; 32 cm

This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. The "FAST ACC" number is a temporary call number. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Title devised by Folger cataloger.
Title page of part A: Anna Dowe, her Book. Scholler to Eliz. Beane, Mrs. in the Art of Writing, anno 1687.
Part A verus B determined by right-reading orientation for the "AD" initials on the binding.
Foliated every 5th leaf by curator in 2023. Part A: 1-125; part B 1-38.
For similar manuscripts created by students of Elizabeth Beane, see exercise books for Sarah North (1686) and Mary Serjant (1688) held by the Beinecke Library, and one for Sarah Cole (1685) held by the Folger.

FAST ACC 272753

From dealer's description: "Beane Mrs in the Art of Writing Anno 1687" Paper size: 12" x 7.5" (305 x 190 mm). Calligraphic writing on rectos only, altogether 152 pp. (i.e. folios). Section A: 75 ff. (written on rectos only); fols. 2-4 with some repaired tears in margins + Manuscript Library Catalogue: 42 pp. + 26 blank ff. + Section B: 3 blank ff. 35 ff. (written on rectos only). Contemporary English black morocco, profusely gilt, five raised bands on spine, board edges and turn-ins gilt. Front joint cracked, revealing cords, but absolutely sound, front loose but not detached. Elaborate gold-printed endpapers ("Buntpapier") depicting exotic birds and plants. Preserved in a velvet 1/4 morocco cloth case lettered "Anne (sic) Dowe / 1687." (#4091) AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY: ANNA DOWE'S MANUSCRIPT CIPHER BOOK, written by her in 1687 under the tutulage of Elizabeth Beane. It emerged at a Sotheby's London sale in 1972 and has remained unlocated for 51 years. It belongs to a group of four closely related cipher manuscripts created by young women who were taught by Elizabeth Beane during the years 1685-1688. These are comprehensive tutorials on PRACTICAL arithmetic, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, all with associated word problems which are solved by the student. As befitting the head of a household, the problems focus on money and accounting. In our manuscript, as in others from the Elizabeth Beane group, Anne Dowe writes: "Arithmetick is the Art of Numbering well where by all reckonings and accounts in humane affairs are exactly kept." Anna Dowe (a.k.a. Dowell) was born in 1661 in St James Parish, Bristol; one year after the present manuscript was written she married in Bristol to Thomas Winstone (1661-1751) of Frenchay (near Bristol). The manuscript passed through generations of the Winstone - Hayward - Curtis - Curtis-Hayward family, residing in Woolstrop, known as Quedgeley House, near Gloucester. Our manuscript has a Library Catalogue of Quedgeley House dated 1783, and THIS MANUSCRIPT is recorded therein. According to Froide, Elizabeth Beane was a self-employed London writing master. Beane may well have lived in London, but it is also possible that Beane was an itinerant instructor of Arithmetic and Writing, and that she traveled from house to house and stayed there as an instructor for one year (discussion with Heather Wolfe 10/3/23). This manuscript was written in two distinct parts. After the first part was written, the binding was flipped over and turned upside down ("head-over-heels"); then the second text was written. Chronologically, Section B may have been written first, because the handwriting is less accomplished, indicating that the student was writing as she was learning. What we describe is Section A is due to the fact that it features a title-page, whereas Section B does not. NB: Neither section is a copy of the other, textually or mathematically. [...]" Ordered from Michael Laird Rare Books LLC, D9686, 2023-10-06, email quote.

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