Books on Italic Handwriting and Calligraphy

[nieto]

There are numerous books and references available for beginners these days. Two popular ones are:

[...]

My favorite Italic writing references are:

A Handwriting Manual by Alfred Fairbank

Three Classics of Italian Calligraphy (Arrighi, Tagliente, Palatino) by Oscar Ogg

[..]

 

Hello Mr. Pickering and the rest,

I have found that the original Palatino book (Palatino, Giovanni Battista, MDXXXXV=1545, Libro nuovo d'imparare a scrivere) is available for free online, its copyright having expired long time ago :rolleyes: Here are to sample pages from the book:

 

YES, it is written in Italian.

The book can be downloaded as PDF (9.5 Mb) or a few other formats here:www.archive.org

 

Best regards to all.

Jesús Nieto (Spaniard in Luxembourg)

 

 

[HDoug]

I just downloaded it. Thank you very much!

 

Doug

[vidalia11]

Thank you for the link !

 

Karen

[James Pickering]

.......... I have found that the original Palatino book (Palatino, Giovanni Battista, MDXXXXV=1545, Libro nuovo d'imparare a scrivere) is available for free online, its copyright having expired long time ago .......... The book can be downloaded as PDF (9.5 Mb) or a few other formats here:www.archive.org ..........

 

Thank you for that, Jesús.

 

James

 

[zeshadok]

Hello,

 

Yes, a good link, thank you very much ! I've sent the link to my european artists contacts !

Here, the "Harris" is a reference too, and also 2 books we do love in Europe :

Claude Mediavilla : "Calligraphie"

Martin Andersch : Traces signes lettres

[driscol]

I'm really interested in improving my handwriting, and it seems that italic would be the easiest to learn. Would it be better to learn off of Write Now by Getty and Dubay or a used copy of The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting, Cursive and Calligraphic by Fred Eager?

[caliken]

I'm really interested in improving my handwriting, and it seems that italic would be the easiest to learn. Would it be better to learn off of Write Now by Getty and Dubay or a used copy of The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting, Cursive and Calligraphic by Fred Eager?

Look for a copy of "Handwriting for Today" by Tom Gourdie. Bill the Editor reviewed this book at the top of this forum, and I concur with his opinion. It's head and shoulders above any other book on the subject IMHO

 

caliken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/File05992.jpg

[SamCapote]

Do you guys have any opinions on this 40 MB downloadable Briem Handwriting Repair guide? I'm looking at some earlier Briem links you have mentioned in this thread, but links were broken. Not sure if this is what you meant. Thanks!

 

http://briem.net/8/2/205.htm

Edited March 19, 2010 by SamCapote

[Exitao]

A great thread - I agree it should be pinned. Thanks to Mr. Pickering and BillThe Editor.

 

I an addition. It is probably out of print at this point but I see there are used copies available now and then.

 

The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting by Fred Eager. New York: Collier Books.

 

It is well organized, clear instruction and has useful drills.

 

I used this book many years ago ( It was $3.95 at the time - if that gives you an idea). I found it useful. I have also used the Write Now books. Highly recommended.

 

My copy shows two copyright dates, 1967 and 1974 (a year younger than myself), I don't know if it was ever republished. I bought it a few years ago for $4.99 Canadian. It was pure chance.

 

It provides many exercises, first in a more calligraphic method, and then later on introduces one to a cursive method, but continues to teach both. Circa 100 pages all dedicated to the Italic style covering pretty much everything one could need to make a good start by self-study.

 

 

I picked it up mainly as an aid to finally achieving a legible handwriting rather than for the calligraphy. Every so often I return to the book and start over again.

[Aunt Jill]

I just found The Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship (1866) by H.C. Spencer. Pages from it are reproduced here as well. Enjoy!

[patrickfp]

I've built a nice collection of books on Italic handwriting. I have not read all of them completely, but I believe they are all good books. I say that they are all good because each of them provides something unique. I am a firm believer that if a book is almost useless, except for one thing which I cannot find in other books, then the book is a good book. My collection is:

 

Handwriting for Today (Tom Gourdie)

Italic Handwriting (Tom Gourdie)

A Handwriting Manual (Alfred Fairbank)

An Italic Calligraphy Handbook (Caroline Joy Adams)

 

I think the first three are out of print, but they can still be obtained from eBay from time to time. My favourite place to get books is www.abebooks.com.

[caliken]

"Handwriting for Today". Gourdie, Tom. (Date not given -- probably early 1970's) Pitman Publishing, London and Pentalic Corporation, New York.

 

You're right, Bill. This book was first published in 1971.

Edited July 23, 2010 by caliken

[KateGladstone]

I'm really interested in improving my handwriting, and it seems that italic would be the easiest to learn. Would it be better to learn off of Write Now by Getty and Dubay or a used copy of The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting, Cursive and Calligraphic by Fred Eager?

 

They're both great -- but WRITE NOW is a bit less daunting for the beginner (though each book has a few good things that the other one lacks). I'd say to buy both -- and to use WRITE NOW first.

[KateGladstone]

Yes, I too really wish that HANDWRITING FOR TODAY could get back into print.

 

I'm really interested in improving my handwriting, and it seems that italic would be the easiest to learn. Would it be better to learn off of Write Now by Getty and Dubay or a used copy of The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting, Cursive and Calligraphic by Fred Eager?

Look for a copy of "Handwriting for Today" by Tom Gourdie. Bill the Editor reviewed this book at the top of this forum, and I concur with his opinion. It's head and shoulders above any other book on the subject IMHO

 

caliken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/File05992.jpg

[KateGladstone]

Do you guys have any opinions on this 40 MB downloadable Briem Handwriting Repair guide? I'm looking at some earlier Briem links you have mentioned in this thread, but links were broken. Not sure if this is what you meant. Thanks!

 

http://briem.net/8/2/205.htm

 

Well, I recommend it -- now that I know where it has moved to!

[patrickfp]

Yes, I too really wish that HANDWRITING FOR TODAY could get back into print.

 

Check out Abebooks from time to time. Once in a while, a copy will be available. It took me a while to get one, but after some wait, someone did put a copy for sale.

[tomagig]

Hello,

I just bought "The Art & Craft of Hand Lettering: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration" online to start me with calligraphy. I heard rave reviews, I will update you when I read it.

[turnero]

My book on calligraphy

 

http://www.peterunbehauen.de/bilderkalligrafie/unbehauen.jpg

 

[dizzyblonde82]

I have just put a copy of Handwriting for Today for sale in the Marketplace if anyone is looking for a copy.

[va_deputy]

i am a member of the society for italic handwriting, based in the united kingdom. the sih publishes a quarterly magazine, entitled 'writing matters'. one can purchase 'a simmple guide to italic handwriting', by nancy winters. her method is relatively simple and can be used with reasonable speed. the sih's secretary, nicholas caulkin, can provide membership information. his address is 203 dyas avenue, great barr, birmingham b42 1hn, england.