Manuscript notebook of examples of practical arithmetic and arithmetical exercises

Item Details

[Nicholas County, Kentucky], 1826-34

Folio (7 3/4" x 12 1/4"); 8, (12), 1-40, 53-85pp. Manuscript math exercises written in cursive in brown ink on rag paper with several separate title-pages, and elaborate headings; figures and decorations throughout. Collected and sewn together in folding sleeve ('H. Cecil Sharp" bookplate and bookseller label present) in slipcase of 1/4 brown leather and marbled boards; spine with five raised bands and red label titled 'Manuscript Arithmetic of John W. Sharp.' Losses to a few sheets, marginal chipping, soiling' - Good condition. 

An extensive American arithmetic including exercises and examples of 'Vulgar Fractions; 'Decimal Fractions;' 'Single Rule of Three;' 'The Universal Rule of Proportion;' 'Laying On and Taking Off Percent;' 'Tear and Trett;' 'Involution or the Raising of Powers the Square Root;' 'Evolution or the Extraction of Roots;' 'Square Root;' 'Cube Root by Another Rule;' ' Barter;' 'Profit and Loss;' 'Partner Ship;' 'Insurance Comission(sic);' 'Brokerage and Percent;' 'Equation of Payments;' 'Interest;' and 'Simple Interest.' Interspersed with aphorisms and children's names and dates. John W. Sharp (1803-1884) was born in Fayette County and settled in Nicholas County, Kentucky. With six months of formal schooling, Sharp became a successful farmer; he served as County Commissioner and was elected to the Kentucky legislature in 1838. (Copy of biographical sketch of author from W.H. Perrin's 'History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas counties, Kentucky' laid in).