Old-World Penmanship: Seeing Beauty and Writing Beautifully

“True, —This!  Beneath the rule of men, entirely great — The pen is mightier than the sword.”

~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy, 1839

Sending beautifully-handwritten letters featuring elegant script and sealed with wine-red sealing wax was once a standard mode of communication. Today, it remains as a specialised art-form, standing out as something more personal and thoughtful than our typical modern media. If you have ever wanted to experience the pleasure of this kind of writing, then this class is definitely for you.

Using the remarkable 1743 treatise by engraver and expert scrivener George Bickham on all things penmanship, “The Universal Penman,” students who take this class can expect to acquire skills and information in the following areas:

• Understanding writing instruments and ink
• How to cut, temper, and use goose-quill pens
• How to make iron-gall ink
• How to use metal-nib pens and metal-nib fountain pens
• Selection of paper for texture and “hand”
• Developing elegant Copperplate, Italics, Blackletter, and “Round” penmanship styles
• Scrollwork and embellishments
• Hand-making customized envelopes
• Designing and using personalised wax seals
• And more…

At the conclusion of the day, students will have the skills and experience necessary to develop a personal style, and will have several working examples of their own and the teacher’s writing for reference.  Additionally, they will have a rudimentary understanding of how to read old, handwritten documents (useful for research, family genealogy, &c.).

A paperback copy of The Universal Penman, a quality fountain pen, several goose-quill pens, one small bottle of iron-gall ink, and several sheets of laid-finish antique paper are included in the materials cost, for each student to take home after the class has ended. NOTE: Personalised seals and sealing wax are not included, although there will be seals available to try during class time.  [Please contact The Fellowship for details on how to order these optional items in advance of the class.]

For ages 12 and up, with parental or guardian supervision for minors.

Class Minimum:  6 students

Class Maximum:  16 students

This class will be held at The Nimick Family Education Center, Loyalhanna Watershed Association, in Ligonier, PA.  [Google Maps link here.]  Due to the Ligonier Country Market traffic, we recommend that participants arrive by 7:30 a.m. to facilitate easy access.  Coffee, tea, mini-quiches and breakfast pastries will be offered during the “social time” before class actually commences at 8:00 a.m.