A very lovely early Spencerian (calligraphic) ink drawing of a bird (with a list of expenses on the back, making me like it all the more.) But what is especially good about this one is that not only was it is signed by its maker - "executed by" a T.J.Pearce, I believe it reads--but he (I presume) also noted the time it took to draw: "in three minutes." Which suggests, as if not already apparent, that he was quite a practiced Spencerian calligrapher. I really love the idea that this bird has carried exactly three minutes worth of focused attention across near 150 years--a long flight of fancy!

8" x 5", ink on laid paper, good condition. Writing along the bottom a bit faded but readable, and ink in the bird strong and fine.