Two early 18th-century English manuscript schoolbooks [manuscript], circa 1710-14.

[England], [circa 1710-14]

2 volumes ; 20 x 16 cm each

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.

Great Britain -- England.

FAST ACC 272512

Ordered from Dean Cooke, Manuscripts & Rare Books, D9535, 2021-10-06, Cat. "First words: catalogue of manuscripts & rare books to be exhibited by Dean Cooke Rare Books Ltd on stand A7 at the firsts fair Saatchi Gallery London 21 - 24 October 2021", item #14. From dealer's description: "BENSON, John Two early 18th-century English manuscript schoolbooks. [England, Muncaster. Undated. Circa 1710-4]. Two small quarto volumes, each approximately 200 mm x 160 mm. These unusual manuscript volumes offer privileged access to the educational provision of the so-called lower classes in provincial England. Their sometimes-contradictory elements give us an insight into the cross-currents of intellectual thought in the early modern period. Here we find earlier scholastic didacticism nesting within Enlightenment ideas of broader access to education. The volumes were produced by one John Benson who embeds what he has learned through his organised presentation which develops across two quarto volumes. The earlier volume is bound in contemporary sprinkled sheep, with plain ruled boards. The first leaf is inscribed to the recto, “Unus e libris Johannis Benson pretium 3[s]—6[d]-0[qs] Cene valet” and to the verso “Exercitia Scholastica in usum I: Benson Conditoris”, both pages with calligraphic flourishes. Pagination: 1 (blank), 2 (inscriptions), 127 text pages, followed by 21 blank leaves at the end. The plain sheep binding and the presence of blank leaves at the end suggests this was a stationer’s book bought for the purpose. The pages are neatly laid out with some borders, and the text is written in a clear and legible sloping, with occasional calligraphic flourishes. It does not appear to be a workbook, rather it has the appearance of a copybook bringing together the best of this student’s work. The second volume is predominantly devoted to the art of writing, including dialogue, rhetoric, and especially poetry, and integrates some of the poems from the first volume. The layout of the material is clearer and more organised, making for a more attractive artefact. It is bound in full calf, which again appears to be a stationer’s book but this time a contrasting label has been added to the spine which reads “Scolastick Exercises I * B”. The front paste-down and first leaf are inscribed “Liber Johannis Benson” across the two pages, with calligraphic flourishes and floral patterns. Pagination: 272 pages (including 3 divisional blanks); this text comfortably doubles the earlier volume. There are several stubs at the end, but the text ends with the word “Finis”. The text is double-ruled in red throughout, with some horizontal double lines to earlier sections and decorative pen strokes in red to the remainder of the text. We have a strong sense of a student taking what he has learned about spatial organisation and bringing it to bear upon his second attempt at a final copybook."

272512