The Instructor, or, Young man’s best companion ... / by George Fisher, accomptant.

London : Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch in Pater-noster-Row, R. Ware in Amen-Corner, J. Clark in Duck-Lane, S. Birt in Avemary-Lane, and J. Hodges on London-Bridge, [1735?]

1 volume ; 17 cm

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Great Britain -- England -- London, -- publication place.

272965

From dealer's description: "FISHER, George. The Instructor: or, young Man’s best Companion … to which is added the Family’s best Companion. London, for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch et al. [not before 1735]. 12mo, pp. viii, 424, with engraved folding plate after p. 266 and 4 engraved plates of letterforms on two leaves, printed recto and verso on 2 leaves; tables and woodcut diagrams in the text, 2 pp. Of woodcut needlework patterns (pp. 410–11); folding plate torn with small loss to border and a line of text at foot, small stain to one leaf, a few leaves with very light dampstain, else a very good copy in contemporary sheep, double-filleted in blind, inner blind roll, joints cracked but cords sound, spine chipped at head and foot with loss to lower compartment, corners bumped, a little rubbed with small loss to upper board; ownership inscriptions of C. Digby and C. Dodson to front pastedown, another dated 1746 partially erased at head of title; preserved in a cloth box. Second edition(first 1727) ofthis instruction manual for young men. ‘Volumes entitled “The YoungMan’s companion” exist inmany versions and go back to the 1680s whenWilliamMather produced the first of them. They are compendiums of useful information, intended for selfimprovement. They concentrate on English, Mathematics, including mensuration for elementary building and carpentry, and geography. There is much miscellaneous information.’ (Barton and Hall eds., Letter writing as a social practice (2000), pp.51–2). The present work includes a wealth of useful information, including lists of proverbs, instructions for making pens and ink, model letters, how to keep accurate accounts, wordings for different bills, guides to the universities and counties, month-by-month gardening instructions, how to mark linen for tapestries, and recipes for different wines. Oxfordshire is described as follows: ‘one of the most pleasant, healthful, and fertile Counties in the Kingdom; ‘tis watered with delightful Rivers ... but above all, it is famous for having the finest University in the World’ (pp. 257–8). ESTC T66097; AlstonIV, 358. This edition not in Herwood orICA, which listseveral editions, all later" Ordered from Bernard Quaritch Ltd., D9760, 2024-08-06, Cat. Education, July 2024, item #10.

272965