1834 OSTRANDER ELEMENTS OF NUMBERS AMERICAN ARITHMETIC FINE LEATHER SLIPCASE For Sale

TOBIAS OSTRANDER — THE ELEMENTS OF NUMBERS; OR, EASY INSTRUCTEREarly American Arithmetic TextbookCanandaigua, New York, 1834Fourth Stereotype EditionFull Green Leather Binding with Custom Chemise and SlipcaseProbable Fritz Drasgow Provenance

OSTRANDER, Tobias. The Elements of Numbers; or, Easy Instructer [sic]; Being a New and Comprehensive System of Practical Arithmetic, Calculated for the Use of Schools Throughout the United States. Canandaigua, New York: Printed and sold by Morse and Harvey, proprietors of the copyright, 1834.

Fourth stereotype edition, revised, corrected, and improved. 182 pages.

An uncommon early American schoolbook devoted to the practical mathematics required in the classroom, household, farm, shop, and countinghouse. Published in western New York during the formative period of American public education, Ostrander’s manual teaches arithmetic through rules, worked examples, theoretical questions, and practical commercial exercises.

The volume covers whole numbers, subtraction, multiplication, division, vulgar and decimal fractions, federal money, weights and measures, proportion, interest, barter, profit and loss, geometrical progression, square and cube roots, mensuration, alligation, and related mathematical and commercial subjects.

Beyond its mathematical content, the book offers an appealing material record of how arithmetic was taught and applied in the early nineteenth-century United States. The problems involving money, commodities, measurements, interest, trade, and land reflect the practical economic life for which American students were being prepared.

Handsome Full Leather Binding

This copy has been preserved in a handsome later full dark green leather binding, decorated in gilt with ruled borders, ornamental corner tools, and a central gilt device on each cover. The rounded spine is gilt-lettered and dated 1834. Marbled endpapers complete the binding.

The book is housed in a matching green cloth chemise and slipcase, both made specifically for the volume. The chemise spine is lettered in gilt with the title and author. The coordinated binding and protective case give the book a considerably more attractive presentation than the heavily worn original bindings in which early American schoolbooks usually survive.

Probable Fritz Drasgow Provenance

The lower edge of the inner front board is stamped “DRASGOW” in gilt. This appears to be an ownership stamp rather than a binder’s signature.

The mark can likely be associated with the library of noted American psychologist and psychometrician Fritz Drasgow, Dean and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois and an authority on psychological measurement, quantitative methods, computerized testing, and assessment.

This identification is supported by another elaborately rebound volume bearing the same gilt “Drasgow” ownership stamp in precisely the same position. That volume was catalogued by PBA Galleries as likely originating from Fritz Drasgow’s library.

Drasgow’s ownership of an early American arithmetic textbook would be particularly appropriate given his distinguished career in quantitative psychology and educational and psychological measurement. The binding, marbled endpapers, chemise, and slipcase may have been commissioned for his collection, although the identity of the binder has not been determined.

Bibliographical Details

• Author: Tobias Ostrander
• Title: The Elements of Numbers; or, Easy Instructer
• Place of publication: Canandaigua, New York
• Publisher: Morse and Harvey
• Date: 1834
• Edition: Fourth stereotype edition, revised, corrected, and improved
• Pagination: 182 pages
• Language: English
• Subject: Arithmetic, mathematics, education, American schoolbooks
• Binding: Later full dark green leather with gilt decoration
• Endpapers: Marbled
• Protective case: Matching cloth chemise and slipcase
• Provenance: Probably the library of Fritz Drasgow
• Ownership mark: “DRASGOW” stamped in gilt inside the front board
• Binder: Unidentified

Condition

Very good as handsomely rebound.

The later full leather binding is sound and attractive, with light rubbing, a few small scuffs, and minor wear along the edges and extremities. The gilt decoration and lettering remain bright. The marbled endpapers are clean and attractive.

The matching cloth chemise and slipcase show rubbing, scuffing, handling marks, and wear at the edges and corners but remain sound and functional.

The original text block displays the expected evidence of age and classroom use, including toning, foxing, scattered spotting and staining, and occasional handling wear. The title page is toned and foxed and bears an old pencil price notation in the upper corner. The printed text remains clear and readable.

The volume has not been fully collated against a bibliographical description and is offered as shown. Please examine all photographs carefully for the most accurate assessment of condition.

A handsome collector’s copy of an uncommon 1834 American arithmetic textbook, combining early educational and commercial mathematics with an unusually decorative full leather binding, fitted chemise and slipcase, and probable provenance from the library of an important American psychometrician.