Declaration of Independence -style script

[jlk]

does anyone have an idea of the type of script used during this time period? where might I see some instructive examples?

 

-thanks.

[ElaineB]

http://www.calligraphersguild.org/penmen.html

Here's some information about the men who did the writing for the final drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They were called "Engrossers" and were essentially professional calligraphers, working with a type of lettering we now call copperplate or roundhand. There's more information at these web sites:

 

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons.htm

http://www.zanerian.com/

http://www.theelegantpen.com/Master%20Penmen.htm

[jlk]

GREAT links! thanks for the info.

[wimg]

Thank you, Elaine,

 

Very interesting piece of history and penmanship!

 

Warm regards, Wim

[dvorak]

that's quite a collection

 

Thanks! I especially like the Spencerian Ladies' Hand script, the definition of elegant.

 

Brent

[Richard]

Actually, the Declaration of Independence was written by an ordinary person, not a professional engrosser. What the Continental Congress was proposing was treason, and it were better to keep their identities under wraps until after the deed was done and made public -- an engrosser could have earned a tidy bounty by turning them in before the document was signed. Benjamin Franklin summarized the situation when he said, just before signing the paper, "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

 

Here are two fragments. The first shows the original document. The second is a facsimile that I've created using a font called American Scribe. (I kept the initial word in my sample because I don't have a font for it.) As you can see, this is not calligraphy. It is merely the hand of an educated gentleman of the 1770s. The American Scribe font, by the way, was designed from the Declaration of Independence, so you can see why it's so similar.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/shared/declaration_frag.jpg

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/shared/declaration_frag_am_scribe.jpg

Edited April 19, 2008 by Richard

[HDoug]

Speaking of a "hand of an educated gentleman of the 1770s," here's a draft in Thomas Jefferson's own hand. You can make out some of the verbiage that is crossed out.

 

http://homepage.mac.com/hdougmatsuoka/images/pen/DeclarationDraft.jpg

 

I'm always amazed at the legibility of old handwritten documents.

 

Doug

 

 

[Ondina]

What two gorgeous examples of handwritting, and yes, they are perfectly legible. And what a piece of history....

Thanks for posting it.

[QM2]

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons.htm

 

Thanks for posting this, I love the Lessons in Dashy Writing by F.B. Courtney!

 

"When you write a good hand there comes a knock at the door.

You are wanted in the business office"

 

Happens to me all the time : )

 

This is great stuff!

QM2

[finalidid]

Legibility? Look up "Elizabethan Secretary Hand" and tell me you think it's legible!

 

[hardyb]

See some documents below from the Adams archives, some Notrary hand examples and a brief overview of the "American Hand". Also the P22 group has a font for you computer that is called Declaration:

The new Declaration font set from P22 features two lettering fonts based on the

Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. A script font that

features the look of classic 18th Century penmanship, with a slightly irregular

edge, as found on documents made with ink quill pens on vellum or parchment. The

accompanying Blackletter font is also derived from the Declaration of Independence

as it was used for emphasis and of course the famous document title itself. A

third font, which features the signatures of the signers of the Declaration of

Independence, is also included. The fonts included in the basic set are:

 

P22 Declaration Script

P22 Declaration Blackletter

P22 Declaration Signers

Edited April 19, 2008 by hardyb

[jon]

Also the P22 group has a font for you computer that is called Declaration

Betraying my novice cluelessness--What is the P22 group? I'd be interested in seeing the font.

Thanks,

Jon

[hardyb]

Betraying my novice cluelessness--What is the P22 group? I'd be interested in seeing the font.

Thanks,

Jon

 

Here you go:

http://www.p22.com/

 

Under Tops of the Pops: #5

Edited April 20, 2008 by hardyb

[jon]

Many thanks--very interesting site!

Jon