Escuela Paleographica, ó de Leer Letras Antiguas, desde la Entrada de los Godos en Espanña, Hasta Nuestros Tiempos

Madrid: Juan Antonio Lazano, 1780. Hardcover. Very Good. [36], 443, [1] p.: 57 leaves of paleographic engravings; 36 cm. Half calf with marbled paper over boards (possibly a 20th-century binding). Six spine compartments between raised bands; red morocco labels in the second and fifth compartments with gilt-tooled title "Letras Cursivas Antiguas y Modernas" and date "Año 1780." Gilt-tooled ornamentation in the other four compartments. Endpapers printed in a red floral pattern. Added engraved title page: Escuela de Leer Letras Cursivas Antiguas y Modernas . . . Gravadas las Letras por Don Francisco Assensio y Mejorada. The leaves of engraved paleographic examples are included in the pagination. Initial 36 unpaginated pages include 11 pages containing the names of subscribers and one page of errata. The versos of the title page and added engraved title page contain a handwritten list of contents in ink, with some bleed through onto the title pages. Designed as a guide to the reading of ancient Latin and Spanish manuscripts, this volume is beautifully illustrated with engraved plates showing the development of Latin and Spanish script from that used during the Roman empire up to the 18th century. The sample texts presented on the plates are transcribed in the accompanying pages. Lacking leaves 57 and 58; otherwise in Very Good Condition: edges of covers are rubbed, with slight loss of paper; upper corners bumped; added engraved title page is soiled; old repair between second leaf (title page) and third leaf; front hinge separating; worming throughout, largely confined to top margin, affecting ruled borders and text on a few plates. An attractive copy of this scarce and important work of paleography.