Title from the first volume. The second volume has separate title: James Needham, midsummer, 1848.

Both volumes bound in contemporary half roan and cloth patterned boards. With tissue paper interleaving throughout. Cased together.

In English.

Two exercise books of calligraphic writing kept by James Needham at Heaton Norris school (near Manchester, England) in 1847 and 1848. Writing is in pen and black ink throughout, with the addition of graphite to provide a shadow effect on large letters in headings. Each of the two volumes has a title page recording Needham's name and the year. The subsequent pages follow a consistent pattern: filling the top half of each page is a large calligraphic heading, the theme of which is expounded upon in a short excerpt of verse or prose at the bottom of the page, written in a smaller cursive. Discrete illustrations are sometimes imbedded in the calligraphic headings, including depictions of swans, heads, and a fish.

The short texts all treat themes of the virtuous life, or moral improvement in youth. They include excerpts from well known authors such as Hannah Moore, William Shakespeare, Charles James Fox, William Congreve, and George Lyttleton. Headings include: Choice of friends; Life: a state of trial; The rainbow; Virtue; Trust in god; Society; True humanity; Useful attainments; Improvement of time; Christian morality; A book; Bless the Lord my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Children > Conduct of life.

School notebooks > Great Britain.

Penmanship > Study and teaching

Calligraphy (visual works)

Writing books.

Exercise books (Penmanship)