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George Bickham's Penmanship Made Easy
George Bickham was an enterprising eighteenth-century engraver and calligrapher who promoted the practice of proper penmanship. This volume, an unabridged reprint of his now extremely rare calligraphy manual, The Young Clerks Assistant, provided "young practitioners" with much valuable information on how to write not only legibly but also with beauty and grace.
The book begins with "Directions for Learners," a series of helpful hints on forming letters, holding the pen, arm and wrist positions, proper posture, and so on, followed by a wealth of calligraphic specimens: alphabets, maxims, didactic verses, and other words of advice for elevating the moral standards of the young.
For modern calligraphers, Bickham's guide offers an abundance of models for imitation and provides a delightful look back at the instruction manuals and teaching methods of the mid-1700s. Enhanced with many charming engravings, this hard-to-find antique teaching tool can be read as easily for pleasure as for inspiration. It will appeal to calligraphers, graphic artists, and any devotee of fine penmanship.
The book begins with "Directions for Learners," a series of helpful hints on forming letters, holding the pen, arm and wrist positions, proper posture, and so on, followed by a wealth of calligraphic specimens: alphabets, maxims, didactic verses, and other words of advice for elevating the moral standards of the young.
For modern calligraphers, Bickham's guide offers an abundance of models for imitation and provides a delightful look back at the instruction manuals and teaching methods of the mid-1700s. Enhanced with many charming engravings, this hard-to-find antique teaching tool can be read as easily for pleasure as for inspiration. It will appeal to calligraphers, graphic artists, and any devotee of fine penmanship.
- GenresReference
64 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 16, 2019
At first opening and flip through I was disappointed by the book. First impression was that it was a sampler, the text showing of the scripts - which it does - but reading the text: the first section has guidance and help, the second shows the letterforms in use. The spelling in antiquated and the f-shaped symbol for an internal lower-case s takes time to pick up. I will be using the verse and aphorisms to practice.
The facsimile nature of the pages made for some faint up strokes and confusing specks (is that a comma or a smudge?). This added to reading time.
This book will now sit with my pen and ink to b copied an transcribed until I feel practised memoir.
The facsimile nature of the pages made for some faint up strokes and confusing specks (is that a comma or a smudge?). This added to reading time.
This book will now sit with my pen and ink to b copied an transcribed until I feel practised memoir.
July 18, 2021
Practicing cursive has been so much fun and very relaxing during lockdown.
I'd highly recommend this book one to anyone who is interested in learning or perfecting.
I got my copy from Townsends. Which is printed on textured paper and bound together with stitching. A very nice touch.
I've wanted to continue to practice for many years and have finally picked it up again, I'm especially finding it helpful for adding a bit of elegance to my crafts/card-making activities.
Originally published in 1787, this booklet is for those who want to learn the art of penmanship.
It has fancy scripts ranging from Italian to Roman style, Round-hand, German, Square Text, Old English- which is a more heavy-handed gothic serif of sorts calligraphy, to more whimsical, infinity loops/scroll, all very beautiful.
I loved the comparisons of alphabet letters, the instructions that were presented with verses, as well as story poetry lines.
Really loved that the letter "x" is not xylophone, instead the example spells Xerxes. That's how kids learned the letter back then.
I particulary found it helpful to develop my style of: P, A, D, X, L, Q, G, C, R, S, J, f, d.
I'm looking forward to practicing some more.
Blog post
I'd highly recommend this book one to anyone who is interested in learning or perfecting.
I got my copy from Townsends. Which is printed on textured paper and bound together with stitching. A very nice touch.
I've wanted to continue to practice for many years and have finally picked it up again, I'm especially finding it helpful for adding a bit of elegance to my crafts/card-making activities.
Originally published in 1787, this booklet is for those who want to learn the art of penmanship.
It has fancy scripts ranging from Italian to Roman style, Round-hand, German, Square Text, Old English- which is a more heavy-handed gothic serif of sorts calligraphy, to more whimsical, infinity loops/scroll, all very beautiful.
I loved the comparisons of alphabet letters, the instructions that were presented with verses, as well as story poetry lines.
Really loved that the letter "x" is not xylophone, instead the example spells Xerxes. That's how kids learned the letter back then.
I particulary found it helpful to develop my style of: P, A, D, X, L, Q, G, C, R, S, J, f, d.
I'm looking forward to practicing some more.
Blog post
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews