Book-keeping methodiz’d : or, a methodical treatise of merchant-accompts, according to the Italian form.

Wherein, the theory of the art is fully explained, and reduced to practice, by variety of suitable examples in all the branches of trade. To which is added, a large appendix, containing,

I. Descriptions and Specimens of the Subsidiary Books used by Merchants.

II. Monies and Exchanges, the Nature of Bills of Exchange.

III. Precedents of Merchants Writings.

IV. The Commission, Duty, and Power of Factors.

V. A short History of the Trading Companies in Great Britain.

VI. The Produce and Commerce of the Tobacco Colonies.

VII. A Dictionary, explaining the abstruse Words and Terms that occur in Merchandise

Edinburgh : Printed by W. Sands, A. Murray, and J. Cochran for W. Sands, and A. Kincaid & A. Donaldson, 1752. Fourth edition. Octavo, contemporary polished calf, spine with contrasting title label (hinges and edges rubbed), previous owner’s name erased from front pastedown and foot of title page, pp. xiv; 288, a very good copy.

‘John Mair’s ‘Book-keeping methodiz’d’ was the standard accounting text in Great Britain and North America for over 50 years. It was also, arguably, the most popular bookkeeping text of the 18th century. Mair was an Assistant Master at the Grammar School at Ayr and later the Rector of Perth Academy. He attempted, through succeeding editions, to make his book ever more complete and relevant to contemporary business needs. These amendments meant that by the 8th and final edition the text had doubled from its original size. After Mair’s death in 1769 the title was changed to ‘Bookkeeping modernized’ and another 9 editions appeared over the next 35 years. American President George Washington kept a copy of Mair’s work in the library of his plantation at Mount Vernon, Virginia.’ – National Library of Scotland https://www.nls.uk/collections/rare-books/collections/icas/mair