Ornamental Penwork Manuscript

No Place (likely United Kingdom): No Publisher, 1887. 30.3x30.3xcm. A large, accomplished, and exquisite example of ornamental penwork executed by R. M. Nettle. At the center of the work is the coat-of-arms of the United Kingdom featuring a lion and a unicorn, with the mottos “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (or “Shame on anyone who thinks evil”) and "Dieu [et Mon] Droit" (or "God and my right"). “Honi soit qui mal y pense” also serves as the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter, the highest of all British knighthoods. The coat-of-arms is surrounded by letters of the English alphabet, all in uppercase, with small birds and plants playfully tucked behind and around the letters. The number 63 is written in the upper left corner. Evidence along the right edge that this work was disbound from a larger volume. Small chip to the top left corner, with slight loss to the number 6. Edges lightly toned with minor creasing from handling. Three small closed tears, one along the top edge, one on the left edge, and the other along the bottom edge. Small area of soiling near lower left corner. Very Good.

Note: Special thanks to Cynthy Buffington for her sleuth work in helping us figure this piece out.

Price: $450.00

Item #10536