The Origin and progress of the art of writing : a connected narrative of the development of the art, in its primeval phases in Egypt, China, and Mexico ; its middle state in the cuneatic systems of Nineveh and Persepolis ; its introduction to Europe ..

London: Ingram, Cooke, and Co, 1853. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 4to. The Origin and progress of the art of writing : a connected narrative of the development of the art, in its primeval phases in Egypt, China, and Mexico ; its middle state in the cuneatic systems of Nineveh and Persepolis ; its introduction to Europe through the medium of Hebrew, Phoenician, and Greek systems ; and its subsequent progress to the present day. Illustrated by a number of specimens of the writing of all ages, and a series of facsimiles from autograph letters from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century. vii, 176 p.p. Rebound. Quarter bound in brown cloth, marbled boards. A.E.G. Some wear to edges. Gilt titling to spine. Bumping to spine ends. Pencil notations to front pastedown. Closed tear to flyleaf. Edges tanned. Full colour frontis of Egyptian Hieroglyphic writing circa 16th century B.C., plus twenty-seven unpaginated plates and chromolithographs, including reproductions of illuminations and examples of writing from the earliest days. Foxing throughout. Laid in cataloguing description. Last page starting to detach but is still intact. Overall a very good copy of a fascinating book.