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Thomas Perry, Jr., Copybook, 1793This manuscript is an exercise book compiled by Thomas Perry, Jr., in Elbert County, Georgia, in 1793. It is not known whether he compiled the book as a teacher, a student, or as an adult on the frontier attempting to advance his education. The book contains mathematical rules and equations used in farming, trade and shipping, with formulas, exercises and problems. It was also partly a calligraphic exercise demonstrating various ornate scripts. Thomas Perry divided his book into chapters with headings, and ended many chapters with pen and ink drawings. These drawings appear to be based on folk motifs, contemporary events, and perhaps published sources. Some pages are not numbered, and these have been placed where they are found in the manuscript.[The Perry manuscript contains several different types of documents (see sample of seven documents) and many drawings, including animals and people (see samples of six drawings and six more drawings)] On some of the pages of this manuscript, the ink used was so corrosive it bled through the paper and is visible on the other side. There is also transfer from adjacent pages. This is unfortunate but normal and also appears on the original documents.
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