George Bickham Universal Penman 1741 Handwriting Virtue

Virtue
9 by 14 1/4 inches
BCK17 $75

We are delighted to offer prints from this very rare work, with original copper engravings of examples of calligraphy. Bickham himself was a writing master, and he engaged 25 other masters of penmanship to contribute to this highly useful guide to the businessman of calligraphy, ornament, and letter forms. The Universal Penman is rarely found intact as it was often split to allow many clerks to practice at the same time. It is a fascinating view into a bygone world and the values of yesteryear.

We were fortunate to find a large fragment which has been beautifully hand colored by an English expert. The strong chain-lined paper is creamy with a few blemishes.