Background
Little is known about this album of pen and ink drawings of heraldic emblems. A book
plate inside the cover bears the name "Thomas Sharpe." The name "W. Sharpe" is stamped at
the top of the first page and, although it is tempting to ascribe the book to the noted
antiquary Thomas Sharp (1770-1841) or to the even more famous engraver, William Sharp
(1749-1824), one must observe that neither of these gentlemen spelled his name with the
final "e." The style of calligraphy employed in the freehand drawings found in the album
seems typical of that used between 1750 and 1850. Certain spelling errors ("feild" for
"field," for instance) indicate that the author was probably a person of modest
education. The layout of the album suggests that it might have been used as a sourcebook
by an engraver, artisan or weaver employed regularly on bookplate commissions, paintings,
hangings, carpetry, or the like.