Models of Juvenile Letters on Familiar Subjects in English, French and Italian: With topics for the Exercise of Students and Observations relative to Commercial Letters, by the Rev David Blair, author of the Universal Preceptor, the Class Book, English Grammar, &c. &c.

BLAIR, David (pseud. i.e. Sir Richard Phillips (1767?1840).

Published by London G. Sidney London, G Sidney, circa 1811.

About this Item

First Edition. in contemporary full sheep, rebacked with new spine simply ruled in gilt, corners slightly bumped and slight surface wear to front boards, with a contemporary female ownership inscription, hard to decipher but possibly ?Ann Mason Press? 12mo (102 x 173 mm), pp. xi, 124, [2], light foxing throughout the text, A charming epistolary guide compiled by Sir Richard Phillips (and published under the pseudonym Reverend David Blair), containing forty-five letters on various ?familiar subjects? in English, French and Italian. Sir Richard Phillips was an English schoolteacher, author, publisher and vegetarian activist, who published a variety of textbooks and educational texts. In the introduction, Blair describes letter writing as the ?object and end of all education?, arguing the superiority of this guide over other epistolary publications would ensure it avoided the same ?kitchen drawer? fate of his predecessors. He lays out the rules for letter writing before the guide begins, some consistent with a standardised format, whilst others are certainly Blair?s personal opinion. The former includes certain sensible rules such as that letters should always be an ?easy and unaffected conversation? (rule 1), whilst Blair?s opinion seeps through in rules such as ?French and Latin phrases, or even quotations from poets, have a pedantic air. Proverbs and vulgar sayings ought to be avoided. Indecencies and oaths are disgraceful in the highest degree (rule 5)? Letters, he continues, should only be written on quarto paper and never on octavo. The letters themselves are amusing, ranging from letters from brothers to sisters, daughters to mothers, and sons to fathers. A particularly lovely one is one from Eliza Smith to her Mamma on the subject of a ?charming cake? that was ?so much better than all other cakes and of a flavour more delicate and exquisite because we knew it had been made by the hands of our dear and beloved Mamma? Not in the Osborne or Cotsen Catalogues, though both have several other Phillips titles. WorldCat lists only one copy in the British Library.

Seller Inventory # 4164

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Models of Juvenile Letters on Familiar Subjects in English, French and Italian: With topics for the Exercise of Students and Observations relative to Commercial Letters, by the Rev David Blair, author of the Universal Preceptor, the Class Book, English Grammar, &c. &c.
• Publisher: London G. Sidney London, G Sidney, circa 1811.
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Children and Education