The materials on this page are for personal use only and may not be reproduced without the consent of the authors.

Getting Started with the Oblique Pointed Pen

Comparison of the different styles of Pointed Pen Scripts, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Styles of Script, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Demystifying the Oblique Penholder, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
The Point and when to change it, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Adjusting Your Premium Oblique Penholder, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Getting Started in Script, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Setting and Stabilizing the Removable Flange, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Demystifying the Copperplate/Spencerian Script Enigma, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Build Yourself an Oblique Pencil, Bob Hurford*
Adjusting the Angle of Your Paper, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
How to Properly Hold the Oblique Pen, by Don and Ron Tate
A Question of Practice, essay by Dr. Joseph M. Vitolo on the fundamentals of practicing script
Video Adjusting your Pen and Paper, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Before We Get Started, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Adjusting the flange on your Oblique Penholder,  Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Preparing the flange on your Penholder, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Tips on Nibs

A Look at Fine & Flexible Nibs, Bob Hurford*
A Look at Fine & Not-So-Flexible Nibs, Bob Hurford*
Choosing the Right Nib, Bob Hurford*
Crow Quill Pens, Bob Hurford*
Nibs for Monoline Writing, Bob Hurford*
When A Good Nib is Too Big for the Penholder, Bob Hurford*
Leornardt's Principal is the New Principality, Bob Hurford*

About Inks

Regarding Iron Gall Ink, Brian G. Walker
Hints & Tips on Ziller Inks, Richard and Vivian Mungall
Freshening Up Iron Gall Type Inks, Dr. Joe Vitolo*

Spencerian Script   Example

Spencer's New Standard Writing, Spencer Brothers, 1884
Practical Penmanship, Spencer Brothers, 1885
Spencerian Ladies' Hand
Spencerian Script, taken from Real Penwork, 1881
Principles of Spencerian Script, Seldom Dunton, 1863
Henry Cadam Letter, a beautiful sample of writing
Letter to Henry Cadam, another beautiful sample
Gaskell's Compendium of Forms (the section on Writing), G.A. Gaskell, 1883

Spencerian Ladies Hand

Spencerian Ladies Hand exemplar 1
Spencerian Ladies Hand exemplar 2

Ornamental Penmanship   Example

Ninety-five Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, C.W. Jones , 1914
Lessons in Dashy Writing, F.B. Courtney
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, P.Z. Bloser and E.A. Lupfer
ADOBE PDF  Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, C.P. Zaner, 1920
Exemplar, C.P. Zaner
Exemplar, H.P. Behrensmeyer
Exemplar, L.P. Spencer and H.W. Flickinger
Ornamental Capitals, Mary Champion

Del Tysdal's Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship

Del Tysdal was a student of W.C. Brownfield, who was Louis Madarasz' last student.  Del has shared with us these lessons on how to do Ornamental Penmanship the way the old Masters did it. Thank you Del.  (Thanks to Dr. Joe Vitolo for compiling the posts and creating the pdf files.)
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 1*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 2*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 3*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 4*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 5*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 6*
Video Del Tysdal demonstrates OP technique
Analysis of SJW signature in D. Tysdal video, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Signature Writing   Example

Signature writing is a unique specialty of Ornamental Penmanship.  Characterized by elaborate flourishes and joined capitals, it is an artform all its own.
Ornamental Penmanship Signatures, C.P. Zaner, taken from Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, 1920
F.B. Courtney Scrapbook, F.B. Courtney, courtesy of Bob Hurford

Del Tysdal's OP Signatures

This is a series of posts and photos by Del on how to do signatures in Ornamental Penmanship. These were posted to the Ornamental_Penmanship Yahoo Group during March-April 2006
Instructional Posts on OP Signatures*
Photographs of Signatures

Cursive Handwriting   Example

ADOBE PDF   Palmer Method of Business Writing, A.N. Palmer Company, 1935
Gaskell's Business Hand, G.A. Gaskell
ADOBE PDF   Palmer's Penmanship Budget, A.N. Palmer, 1919
Lessons in Practical Penmanship, H.P. Behrensmeyer
A Complete Compendium of Plain Practical Penmanship, L.M. Kelchner, 1901
Self-Instruction in Modern Writing, A.N. Palmer
Exemplar-Capitals, E.W. Bloser
Exemplar-Capitals, A.D. Taylor
ADOBE PDF   Ames' Guide to Self-Instruction in Practical and Artistic Penmanship, Daniel T. Ames, Author and Pulisher, 1884
ADOBE PDF    Champion Method of Practical Business Writing, Mary L. Champion
10 Pages of Writing, Transcribed text document  J.J. Bailey

Copperplate/Engrosser's Script   Example

Lessons in Engraver's Script, W.A. Baird
Lessons in Engrosser's Script, E.L. Brown
Learn Engrosser's Script, Joseph Galtiero
Learn Engraver's Script, O.E. Hovis
Lessons in Engrosser's Script, Charleton Howe
Lessons in Engrosser's Script, E.A. Lupfer
Lessons in Engrosser's Script, C.P. Zaner
Roundhand or Engrosser's Script, E.A. Lupfer
Lessons in Advanced Engraver's Script, exemplars by Louis Madarasz
Rough Draft of a Zanerian Certificate, Lester Fields

Guidelines used in the video clips below, Dr. Joe Vitolo (pdf document)
Capital Letters on Guidelines, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Please see this video clip on how to use the Guidelines, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Fundamentals of Script in the Copperplate Style
Video The Fundamental Oval Form, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The 'Retouched' Cutoff, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The Fundamental 'i', Dr. Joe Vitolo
Illustration for The Fundamental 'i', Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The Fundamental 'v', Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The Compound Curve, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The Square Cutoff, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Fundamental Concepts: Drawing versus Writing, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Script in the Copperplate Style: Lowercase Letters
Video Lowercase Letters Group I, Part 1 of 3, c,e,o,s, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group I, Part 2 of 3, a,d, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group I, Part 3 of 3, g,q, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group II, Part 1 of 3, i,u,w, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group II, Part 2 of 3, j,l,t, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group II, Part 3 of 3, f,k, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group II, Supplement, The Double ll, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group III, Part 1 of 2, v,x, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group III, Part 2 of 2, r,m,n, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group IV, Part 1 of 2, b,h,y, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Lowercase Letters Group IV, Part 2 of 2, p,z, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Script in the Copperplate Style: Uppercase Letters
Video Uppercase Letters: Guideline Usage, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video A Sample of Uppercase Letters: A, O, J, Z, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters F,T, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, B,P,R, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, U,X,Y, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, D, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, O,Q, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, E, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, C, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, G,L,S, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, H,K, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, V,W, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, Z, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, I,J, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Uppercase Letters, A,M,N, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Advanced Concepts
Video Gilded Script Using 23K Gold Leaf, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The Oblique Pencil, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Writing LARGE Letters, Capital B, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video The Symmetry of Curves, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Video Fishhook Capitals, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Tips on Engrossers Script, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
The Descender Stem Loop and Baseline Crossing, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
The Oval and Compound Curves, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
The Symmetry of Curves, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
The Leaning Tower of 'E', Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Letterform Analysis: The Key of 'D', Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Letterform Analysis: The Fundamental Oval, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
The Slant on the Story of N, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Script: Introduction, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Script: Fundamental Forms, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Engrosser's Script: Group I Lowercase, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Engrosser's Script: Group II Lowercase, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Engrosser's Script: Group III Lowercase, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Engrosser's Script: Group IV Lowercase, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Lessons in Engrosser's Script: Group I Capitals, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
Seeing Ovals in the Hairline/Shade Transitions, Dr. Joe Vitolo*
A Question of Practice, essay by Dr. Joseph M. Vitolo on the fundamentals of practicing script

Needle Stitch Script  Example

Needle Stitch Script, Dr. Joe Vitolo*  
Video Needle Stitch Script, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Broad-pen Lettering Styles   Example

Lessons in Text Lettering, S.E. Bartow
Lesson 1-Principal Strokes
German Text
Old English
Engrosser's Text
Lesson 5
Lessons in Text Lettering, W.E. Dennis
Retouched Old English
German Text
Rapid Old English and German Text
German Round Hand
Speed Work
Display Work

Flourishing with Pointed Pen   Example

Flourishing, taken from The New Spencerian Compendium
The Principles of Flourishing, taken from Gems of Penmanship
Bird Flourishing, E.L. Brown
Bird Flourishing - The Effect of Eye Position, Bird flourish by E.A. Lupfer, modified by Dr. Joseph Vitolo
Hand Positions for Flourishing
How to hold the pen
Bird Flourish, W.E. Dennis
Bird Flourish, H.S. Blanchard
Flourish, H.S. Blanchard
Bird Flourish, F.B. Courtney
Bird Flourish, F.B. Courtney
Bird Flourish, H.S. Blanchard
Bird Flourish, H.P. Behrensmeyer
The Clinton Clark Scrapbook, Clinton Clark
ADOBE PDF  Bible Pearls of Promise, Real Pen-Work Publishing, 1867
ADOBE PDF  Gems of Flourishing, Charles Paxton Zaner, 1888

Left-Handed Penmanship and Calligraphy

Left-Handed Writing, taken with permission from www.leftys.com.au
Calligraphy and The Left-Handed Scribe, by Jodi Christiansen
Teaching Left-Handers to Write, by M.K. Holder, PhD
The Left-handed Writers Page, hosted by Classic Fountain Pens, Inc.
Left & Right, an illustration of different techniques by Bill Hildebrandt
A Collection of Posts from Cyberscribes, collected by Andrew van der Merwe
Video - Different Styles of Pointed Pen Scripts, by John DeCollibus, Master Penman
Video - Ornamental Penmanship, by John DeCollibus, Master Penman
Video - Writing Left-handed, a YouTube video from www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk
Books for Left-Handers:
"Left-handed Calligraphy" by Vance Studley, 1979, reprinted by Dover
"Insights into Left-handed Calligraphy" by Betsy Rivers-Kennedy, 1984
"Basics of Left-Handed Calligraphy" by Margaret Shepherd, 1988
Websites of notable left-handed Scribes:
Gaynor Goffe http://www.gaynorgoffe-calligraphy.co.uk/
John DeCollibus http://www.beyondwordsscript.com/
Rosemary Buczek http://www.gildedquill.com/
Betsy Rivers-Kennedy  http://web.me.com/bkennedyva/Site/Welcome.html
Debi Zeinert http://www.bloomingquill.com

Guide sheets

Spencerian Guidelines #1 (Adobe pdf file)
Spencerian Guidelines #2 (Adobe pdf file)
Engrosser's script - small (gif)
Engrosser's script - large (gif)
Three-eighths blue line   (Adobe pdf file)
Three-eighths black line   (Adobe pdf file)
Half-inch blue line   (Adobe pdf file)
Half-inch black line   (Adobe pdf file)
Five-eighths blue line   (Adobe pdf file)
Five-eighths black line   (Adobe pdf file)
Copperplate Practice Sheets by Bob Hurford
Foundational Guidesheet by Marian Gault
Madarasz Spencerian Guidelines #1 by Ron Tate (Adobe pdf file)
Madarasz Spencerian Guidelines #2 by Ron Tate (Adobe pdf file)
Madarasz Guidesheet by Nilesh Chakraborty (Adobe pdf file)
55 degree slant, linespacing from 3mm to 8mm - A4 size (Adobe pdf file)
55 degree slant, linespacing from 3mm to 8mm - Letter size (Adobe pdf file)
Guidelines used in Dr. Vitolo's Engrossers script videos, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Make your own guidelines
Capital Letters on Guidelines, Dr. Joe Vitolo
Copperplate Guidelines by Gabriel Pereira of Enzo and Ziti
Cursive Guidesheet #1 - 52 degree slant, 2.4 mm x-height by Achim
Cursive Guidesheet #2 - 52 degree slant, 3 mm x-height by Achim

The Business Educator

This Zaner-Bloser publication dedicated to penmanship and the pen arts began in 1895 and would undergo several name changes over the next half century. These titles included (from earliest to latest) 'The Zanerian Exponent', 'The Penman and Artist and Business Educator', 'The Business Educator' and finally 'The Educator'. Regular publication ended 1949; however, special editions were released well after 1949.
E.L. Brown Edition, The Educator, December 1953
E.A. Lupfer Edition, The Educator, October 1948
H.P. Behrensmeyer Edition, The Educator, June 1948
Louis Madarasz Edition, The Business Educator, February 1911
H.W. Flickinger Edition, The Business Educator, April 1924

Historical IAMPETH Publications

IAMPETH Newsletter 1988 Vol 4 No1, Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Zaner-Bloser company
IAMPETH Newsletter 1985 Vol 18 No 4, Commemorates Paul O'Hara

Documents marked with an *  are Adobe PDF documents
(download free Adobe Reader)

Thanks to Dr. Joe Vitolo for allowing us to link to the instructional pages on his website www.zanerian.com

Study as much as you practice.
Know what you want to execute.
Use only the best materials.
Keep your pens very clean.
Watch your slant carefully.
Master one style at a time.
Sit up, don't slouch and breathe regularly.

- Louis Madarasz (view image)