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Hello FPN, only recently, thanks to this thread… https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/374208-cursive-vs-italic-a-brief-history-of-handwriting-in-sweden/ …started by @battra, I have discovered the existence of the italic handwriting style mentioned in the title of this thread. The Skolöverstyrelsestilen - or SÖ-stilen - was commissioned by Sweden’s Skolöverstyrelsen (School Oversight Board). They had wished to create a single style of handwriting script/system to be used in all of Sweden’s schools, so that a uniform method of teaching handwriting would be used across the whole country, instead of the the several varieties of script that had been taught until then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaching_script#Sweden After a period of research and experimentation by the SÖ, in 1975 they introduced respected calligrapher Kerstin Anckers’ design for the new script, which she had based on the ‘Chancery Cursive’ of renaissance Italian papal scribe Ludovico Vicentino degli Arrighi. The SÖ issued orders to all of Sweden’s schools that only the new SÖ-stilen should be taught to children. But they botched the introduction, failing to properly instruct school/teachers in how to teach it, not supplying enough teaching/familiarisation materials, and not introducing/explaining the reasoning behind the new system’s creation to Swedish parents. It proved to be very unpopular with the children and their parents, because it was so different to what they were all familiar with, and because it hadn’t been taught properly. A decade later, the SÖ dropped its rule against the use of teaching other writing styles, and SÖ-stilen started to fade into unhappy memory for many. Anyway, after learning of its existence and searching for examples of the script, I have found that I like its appearance, and would like to have a go at learning it. I have downloaded a sample image of its majuscule and minuscule letter glyphs, but I would ideally like to purchase a work book/copybook that teaches it to children/adult learners. I wish to learn how to write its glyphs (stroke direction & order, etc) and the intended/designed strokes for joining them together. So, I searched online for copybooks for SÖ-stilen. The only book that I have found is https://en.campusbokhandeln.se/b/9789162201548/skrivstilsboken-so-stilen I contacted that website to ask them if they would sell/deliver one to me here in the UK, and they replied to tell me that they only sell to people in Sweden. I have not been able to find this book on sale from any UK retailers. As such, I would like to ask whether any of you out in FPN-land can supply me with the contact details of a source from which I can buy either the book to which I linked, or any other book that teaches SÖ-stilen italic. Tack! M.

Hi All, I have recently started to practice Spencerian Business Writing. I bought the Mott Media theory book from Amazon, I have not ordered the Copybooks yet, because I noticed that it would be cheaper to buy the theory book and the copybooks separately. I was wondering if I need the Copybooks at all? Or if they are available for download anywhere? I was planning to scan them and reprint them on laser paper, because I was planning to use them more than once, and I have heard that the paper in them is not great. Does anyone have the copybooks in digital form, or know where I can download them? Or, are there any similar copy worksheets available? Also, Has anyone else started Spencerian recently who would maybe like to learn together? It would be cool to have a practice partner or two to share tips and resources, as well as motivation. Cheers, Bevan