Collection consists of an arithmetic book (220 pp.). The identity of the writer is incomplete and somewhat uncertain. There is a partially legible name of "Ann Stewart" written on the inside front cover. However, the handwriting of her name is very plain, while the text is remarkable for its calligraphy. It is also less likely that a female would have been taught the kinds of arithmetic exhibited. Much of the handwriting is copperplate round hand, a style favored by merchants of the period. There is a drawing at the beginning of the "Practice" section that includes the initials "J.G." These initials and the dates 1771 and 1772 are occasionally set centrally in drawings. The location of the writer is unknown, but someone who owned the volume much later lived in Louisburg, N.C. There is a variety of handwriting styles, and their execution was often excellent. Also, there are numerous drawings of the type that students used to display their writing talents. The drawings include birds, a fish, a mermaid, and faces humorously placed within flourishes. The arithmetic problems are varied as was usual for such volumes, and they relate to many aspects of personal and commercial life.
