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Being deeply impressed with the great value of a "CORPUS SIGILLORUM"
which would bring together in one view a large number of English Seals
of each century for the eye to rest upon and so to comprehend the
varying styles at different dates, Mr. Grazebrook puts forward the
following proposal to see if a sufficient number of Subscribers will
be found to support him, and meet the heavy expense of producing such
a work. It is obvious that to lessen the number of illustrations would
impair its usefulness, and Mr. Grazebrook would not undertake the book
unless it can be thoroughly carried out. What he contemplates would
show perhaps fifty selected characteristic seals for each century from
the eleventh to the seventeenth, displayed in order of date. So large
a number would not be needed at the earliest or latest dates, but for
some of the periods a greater number ought to be given. Students now
get together such collections in tracings and drawings--as the labour
of years; and it is feared very few have perseverance enough to carry
out fully their aim, but without such exact data conclusions must be
guess-work. Mr. Grazebrook has such a collection for his own use, and
knows from experience what a great advantage it is.
This proposed well-illustrated book would not only be most valuable
and instructive to the Antiquary, it would also possess a far wider
and general interest, because these are the highest specimens of Art
remaining to us of the early times in which they were made. Seals
at all dates are the results of the greatest skill and care to be
procured, according to the owner's means; and many of them are
masterpieces, both of design and execution. They display the whole
career of Art: the simplicity of early times, gradually developing and
culminating in the perfection of the fourteenth century; to be followed
by overloaded designs, beautified by exquisite workmanship, at the end
of the fifteenth.
Such a pictured History of Art could not fail to be interesting and
attractive to many who would not care to study the subject from a
strictly antiquarian point of view.
This large collection of engravings would be accompanied by
explanations giving an account of most of the seals, the origin of
their decorations, and other particulars involving a considerable
amount of genealogical research; which, even when epitomised, must form
a bulky volume; and it would require a large body of Subscribers at
30_s._ to cover the expense; but the author trusts he may be encouraged
by such extended support that he may be able somewhat to _increase_
the number of illustrations--many of which must be reproduced from
the copper plates in old and rare works, thus involving considerable
expense.
Subscriptions payable when the work is completed.
Gentlemen who would be willing to subscribe will please write to that
effect to GEORGE GRAZEBROOK, F.S.A., Oak Hill Park, near Liverpool.
Any suggestions for the improvement of the work would be esteemed. The
author will confine himself strictly to
The Art History of those seals whose dates are accurately known;