Customer Reviews

Spencerian Penmanship (Copybook #1)

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This just a re-print of a copy book from 1864, nothing has been added since then as it has "testimonials" from people like President Garfield!

If you are just learning Spencerian, this is a great tool for getting your arm used to the movements. You MUST use an oblique (offset) pen holder when writing this script or you will be eternally frustrated and your hand will cramp. Otherwise it is a feeling of joy when your letters start to look like the examples. Just read the liner notes carefully - all the hints are there.

Michael Sull has written an updated book on Spencerian script and changed a few letters. The 'c' and 'a' are different than the ones in this book as they just look wrong to the modern eye. I would recommend getting his book and pick up a set of these copy books for extra practice. They're inexpensive and are different enough from Sull's "cross drill" exercises that they will give you extra help when learning the various forms. Get the whole set - this is one of five.

If they taught Spencerian Penmanship in school nowadays, most handwriting wouldn't look like chicken scratch (my opinion). I purchased both the instruction and copy book for Spencerian Penmanship for my own personal improvement. It fascinates me to read instruction written so very long ago but the basic principles still can apply today. I leave this book out on my table, and when time permits, I practice the principles in it to improve my own handwriting. I'm slowly retraining myself and it is working. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the beautiful handwriting from the past or someone who truly wants to improve their own.