“THE COMMA REPRESENTS THE SHORTEST PAUSE”: 1844 TREATISE ON PUNCTUATION, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SCARCE ORIGINAL PROMOTIONAL BROADSIDE

WILSON, John. A Treatise on Grammatical Punctuation; Designed for Letter-Writers, Authors, Printers, and Correctors of the Press; and for Use of Academies and Schools. Manchester: the Author, 1844. Thin 12mo, original purple patterned cloth; broadside measures 10-1/2 inches by 16 inches. $800.

First edition of a scarce early style manual, with its own broadside advertisement.

John Wilson was well-known, both in Glasgow (which he left in his early forties) and Boston, as a printer and man of letters (Allibone). His popular style manual went through at least 26 editions, but few copies seem to have survived. The accompanying broadside advertisement reproduces the text of the title page under the heading “Just Published.” Allibone, 2779.

Book fine with only light toning to spine; broadside with faint evidence of having been folded into eighths, about-fine. Scarce, especially in this condition.