Pièce 34 - Letter from A. E. Case to R. B. McKerrow

1 single sheet

1933 Yale Station, New Haven, Connecticut.—Gives some examples of ‘sb’ ligatures in 18th-century books.

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Transcript

1933 Yale Station {1} New Haven, Connecticut
24 April 1928

My dear Mr. McKerrow:

Since I first read your Notes on Bibliographical Evidence some years ago my eye has been abnormally sensitive to the appearance of the word “husband” in early 18th century books. This morning it caught sight of an sb ligature in a collection of songs called The Linnet, published in 1749. The particular instance I found occurs in the seventh line from the bottom of page 115, but no doubt there are others in the book.

It struck me as interesting that one of the publishers of the book was I. Osborn. I suppose the printers in his shop would be more than ordinarily alive to the need for such a ligature. The title-page in the copy I examined is engraved, but it is engraved in imitation of type, and the name of Osborn shows an sb ligature.

I have also noted the use of an italic sb ligature in The Norfolk Poetical Miscellany, 1744, but as the printer had the bad taste to italicize all nouns I gave up the attempt to find an example in roman type.

Sincerely yours,
Arthur E. Case

R. B. McKerrow, Esq.,
44 Museum Street, London, W.C.1.

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Typed, except the signature. Letter-head of Yale University Department of English.

{1} Part of the printed address (‘122 High Street’) has been struck through, and ‘1933 Yale Station’ typed above it.