Palmer Method Certificate

[gibsona9]

My wife and I went antiquing yesterday... I was looking for fountain pens, and found a few -- a beat up black Estie, a green Snorkel that had lived a rough live, and a black Avon with swirled celluloid. All were way overpriced for the shape they were in. Nothing too tempting there.

 

But then I stumbled upon this cool "Palmer Method of Muscular Movement Business Writing" certificate. Unlike most I've seen, this is student certificate, but rather a teacher certificate (graduate is certified to teach the Palmer Method)... It is dated 1930, and the graduate is one Robert B. Duncan.

 

I find this certificate interesting for two reasons. First, it contains some beautiful examples of penmanship, including some Copperplate, some Palmer-style "business script", some nice flourishes, etc. Second, it is interesting historically. As I understand things, the Palmer Method ushered in the age of "business handwriting", a style of cursive which did not require flexible-nib pens. This new style allowed the average person to write more quickly than was possible with the older Spencerian style. So, it seems 1930 (the date on this certificate) was significant: pre-1930 pens commonly have some degree of flex, and post-1930 pens generally do not. The transition in penmanship styles led to a transition in pen (nib) design... As a big flex-nib and Copperplate/Spencerian fan, I find this intriguing.

 

Anyway, I think I did alright for a measly $5! Here's a not-so-great photo of the certificate. Let me know what you think!

 

[JefferyS]

Looks like I can consider writing in Palmer to be my exercise of the day.

[HDoug]

What a great find! I'm glad it has ended up in the hands of someone who can appreciate it. And that he has shared it with us.

 

Doug

[brim]

Very interesting! I'm just starting to get back in to everyday cursive writing and the Palmer method turns out to be my method of choice.

[Hex]

A terrrific find and I wish that I had discovered it.

 

Very nice.

[AD356]

Very cool find! and priced right. Thank you for posting, while I have seen a few student certificate I have never a teachers. It is a very attractive piece. It is interesting that the Board of Awards are not singed with any shading, rather like you stated a mon-line business script.

[gibsona9]

Thanks for the replies! I am glad that you folks, like me, appreciate this fine work!

 

(Hopefully my wife will appreciate it enough to let me frame it and put it up in our entrance hallway, ha ha!!)

 

Brian

[Chevalier]

It would be great if you'd scan it in hi-res for archival purposes. I'd like to have a closer look at this. I'd like to see if most of the certificate is a print from an engraved copperplate.

[gibsona9]

Chevalier,

 

Thats a great idea, but I'll have to find a larger flat bed scanner than the one on my printer....

 

But yes, the majority of the certificate was printed, not hand-written.

 

Brian

[DLindenbaum]

This is very cool!