Books and Manuscripts

Marlow, Jeremiah
A Book of Cyphers or Letters Reverst…
London: printed for W(illiam): Rogers, 1683. First and only edition. 12mo. Illustrated with an engraved title-page and 68 engraved plates (56 numbered and 12 unnumbered). Full contemporary brown calf, stamped in blind and in gilt, rebacked, extremities and corners worn, boards lightly worn; marbled edges; book-plate of Richard Luckett, Pepys Librarian, Magdalene College, Cambridge, on front paste-down; contemporary ownership signature of Simon Segar of Pembroke College, Oxford twice on title-page (one crossed out in a contemporary hand) and at top of front free endpaper, additional contemporary ownership signature of F. Sellars at top of title-page; ownership signature of John Ridgway, 1710, at top of first plate; dampstaining in top corner and fore-edge of some plates, heavier at rear in five unnumbered plates; short closed tear in bottom edge of last plate. USTC 3104426 (locating 12 copies)

Scarce first and only edition of this completely engraved pattern book of monograms, featuring over 300 examples of single, double, and three-letter initial combinations, published for the use of engravers and designers. Rare to auction, according to RBH this is only the third example offered in the past 20 years, while USTC and OCLC locate only 14 copies in institutions in both the United States and the United Kingdom.