Rees, Thomas:

A NEW SYSTEM OF STENOGRAPHY, OR SHORT HAND.

Philadelphia: Re-Printed by James Humphreys, from the Sixth London Edition, 1800. 3-1/2" x 5-1/4." 14, [2 blanks] pp, plus two leaves of plates [one of them folding, entitled, 'A Table of the manner of joining the Characters']. Stitched in contemporary plain wrappers [ownership signatures] Wrappers detached but present, widely scattered foxing. Else Very Good.

The only 18th century American printing of this little pamphlet. Evans and NAIP say the attribution to Rees, a Unitarian minister, is "evidently in error," though the title page says he is the author. Whoever he was, the author's Preface explains his intention to redress the deplorable inattention to "the least cultivated" yet "one of the most useful accomplishments which a man can possess." He demonstrates his system's use of the alphabet, consonants, diphthongs, triphthongs, etc.
Evans 38364. Rink 1982. NAIP w013844 [6]. Item #27851

Price: $650.00