The universal penman, or, The art of writing made useful to the gentleman and scholar, as well as the man of business : exemplified in all the useful and ornamental branches of modern penmanship; with some necessary observations on the excellency of the pen, and a large number of select sentences in prose and verse; various forms of business, relating to merchandize and trade; letters on several occasions; accurate specimens of the oriental languages, and alphabets in all the hands now practis'd / written, with the friendly assistance of several of the most eminent masters, and engrav'd by Geo. Bickham. The whole embelish'd with beautiful decorations for the amusement of the curious.

Engraved throughout; printed on rectos only.
The Universal penman was originally issued in parts between 1733 and 1741. There is conflicting evidence about the number of parts and plates originally intended and how long it would take to issue a completed publication though Muir concludes that it was to appear in weekly numbers over a year for a total of 52 parts and 208 plates. Individual copies with this title appear in a variety of forms, with a number of different t.p.'s and states of plates.
Putti title (leaf 1): The universal penman. Engrav'd by George Bickham. London: Printed for the author, and sent to the subscribers, if living within the Bills of Mortality.
Library's copy corresponds in most points to P.H. Muir's variant B, with the "Introduction" in the first state, inclusion of the t.p. dated 1841 with the imprint reading "sold by the Author at the Crown...", and parts no. xxviii-lii separately foliated 1 to 4; but lacking the added numbering on the leaves comprising no. 1. Cf. P.H. Muir. "The Bickhams and their 'Universal Penman,'" The Library, 4th ser., 25 (1944-1945), p. 162-84.
Library's copy imperfect: lacking the original "putti" title leaf and 24 leaves of text, including parts 35 and 44 entire.