1830s Victorian Handwritten Manuscript Book Written by Frances Sprot

A completely unique manuscript book, handwritten by a novice writer in 1830s. The writer, inscribed as Frances Sprot, is likely to be a Scottish woman who married into the Stoddart family of Leith. She would have been around 50 years old when she began using the book.

Sprot was clearly well-read and took a keen interest in various subjects, with a noticable soft spot for the works of Lord Byron. The book is paginated by hand, with an index added to the rear. The main text, almsot 300 pages worth, is filled with poetry extracts, biographical essays, notes on natural history, and other literary snippets that took her interest. She also adds her own notes to pieces, and writes in a delightfully elegant hand. 

In very good condition with slightly bumped corners, general light edge wear, small spot on front board, stationer's sticker to front pastedown. Pages generally very crisp and clean, hinges strong. Tightly bound in half blue lineated leather with marbled boards and gilt rules on the spine, marbled block edges and blue endpapers. 20 x 12 cm. Pp. 290.