Thomas Tomkins (calligrapher)

Among examples from his pen are:

• A transcript of the charter granted by Charles II to the Irish Society, containing 150 folio pages;
• ornamental titles to books, particularly Thomas Macklin's Bible (8 vols. 1800–16), James Thomson's The Seasons, and the Houghton Collection of Prints;
• a transcript of Horatio Nelson's letter announcing his victory at the battle of the Nile—this was engraved and published;
• titles to three volumes of manuscript music presented to the king by Thomas Linley the elder;
• honorary freedoms presented to celebrated generals and admirals for their victories (1776–1816)—framed duplicates of these are preserved among the city archives; and
• addresses to their majesties on many public occasions, particularly from the Royal Academy.

Tomkins published:

• The Beauties of Writing, exemplified in a variety of plain and ornamental penmanship. Designed to excite Emulation in this valuable Art, London, 1777; again London, 1808–9, and 1844.
• Alphabets written for the improvement of youth in Round, Text, and Small Hands, 1779.
• Rays of Genius, collected to enlighten the rising generation, 2 vols., London, 1806.
• Poems on various Subjects; selected to enforce the Practice of Virtue; and with a view to comprise … the Beauties of English Poetry, London, 1807.

• Lee, Sidney, ed. (1899). "Tomkins, Thomas (1743-1816)" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 57. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1899). "Tomkins, Thomas (1743-1816)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 57. London: Smith, Elder & Co.