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General Categories => Spencerian Script => Topic started by: AnasaziWrites on October 23, 2019, 11:09:34 AM

Title: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 23, 2019, 11:09:34 AM
Hi Everyone,

I was delighted recently to find and buy this cover with a wonderful and very small example of early Spencerian writing on it. It was probably written in the late 1850's based on the stamp (a Scott #25, for those collectors among you, which was issued in the 1857-61 series). Postage rates were based on both weight and distance to destination then, and the rate was 3 cents for up to 1/2 ounce and less than 3000 miles for a letter. Pretty expensive at that time, so often envelopes were quite small and the writing would be small as well and generally letters were written on both sides of the paper. This fine writing (x-height about 1/32 inch) was probably done with a quill (although there are nibs that would allow this size writing) based on the date. It also has an interesting closure on the back. It's not wax, as it is very thin and precisely defined. It looks like a stamped metallic foil. Very dainty (and light), and is in the shape of a little padlock.
 I've photographed it on top of a number 10 envelope and next to a pen to give you an idea of it's size. Such fun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on October 23, 2019, 12:00:40 PM
I love it!!  And the stamp.  So, it looks to be a little over 2" tall?  I wish we could send mini mail like that now!
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 23, 2019, 02:46:59 PM
I love it!!  And the stamp.  So, it looks to be a little over 2" tall?
@Bianca M
Yes. The envelope measures 2 1/4 X 3 7/8 inches. Just big enough to enclose a calling card.
 
Quote
I wish we could send mini mail like that now!
Me, too. In fact, I'm going to take this envelope to the post office--I have friends there--and see if they would accept an envelope of this size and with an address written this small. If so, would you like to receive one? PM me your address if so. I probably have it from a prior exchange, but let me know anyway.
Anyone else interested?
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on October 23, 2019, 04:20:55 PM
The minimum size requirement is 5"x3.5", but we could still see if the tiny writing works!  I'll PM you.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: waterconfidence on October 24, 2019, 12:14:44 PM
Your small writing is amazing. I thank you for your amazing script on the Halloween exchange.
I wish the list had been updated before you sent out your card (early). Erica had to make some changes on the list so my name was incorrect but the script was stunning. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 24, 2019, 09:18:30 PM
Your small writing is amazing. I thank you for your amazing script on the Halloween exchange.
I wish the list had been updated before you sent out your card (early). Erica had to make some changes on the list so my name was incorrect but the script was stunning. Thanks again.
Glad you received it and liked it. It's usually my second favorite exchange.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 25, 2019, 09:41:06 AM
The minimum size requirement is 5"x3.5", but we could still see if the tiny writing works!  I'll PM you.
@Bianca M
Received your address.
In speaking with my friend at the local post office, he confirmed the minimum letter size to be 3.5" X 5", although I see a workaround that. He thought the limiting factor would be the optical character reader they use to sort the mail (and put a bar code on each piece). The USPS has lots of "guidelines" as to how the address should be written, including a recommended minimum size of 10 points (about 1/7" for the letters). He was unsure of what would happen if the reader could not "see" the address for some reason. I suspect that a human would get involved at that point.

The scanned envelope address is in about 2 point size (72 points per inch), and to me and the original postal worker who delivered it, quite legible without magnification. I think what I'll do for our little experiment is to send you several envelopes with decreasing sized addresses, separated by a couple of days so they don't get bunched up somewhere. I'll start with a completely reasonable 1/18 inch x-height and move down from there. Writing at two points (1/36") like the scanned letter is no problem. I can write also at circa one point as well, which I can read easily without magnification, with the right paper and nib--we'll see if the USPS can handle it. If it does, I may attempt something smaller, which would likely require some specialty super-fine paper and a custom ground nib. I'm also not going to put my return address on the outside of the envelope. The easiest solution for the USPS is to return an envelope as "undeliverable" if the writing requires a human eye to read it.
Let the fun begin.

Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: jeanwilson on October 26, 2019, 07:50:12 AM
If you do a YouTube search for --- USPS mail processing machines  --- you will see several videos of the machines that scan the mail.
If the scanners can't read the address it goes to people who will try to read it.
I have a friend who worked at the PO in the dept where real people spend the whole day deciphering addresses and putting the barcode on the envelopes.
I can ask her for more details - although things might be different now that everything is scanned.

For 55-cents, they will go out of their way to figure out what the address is on a 3.5" x 5" envelope.
Just last week, I was putting up a display of mail art at our main PO - and the customer service representative assured me that there are lots of people within the USPS who love mail art - which would include beautiful tiny writing. She also agreed with me that there are other workers who are annoyed with anything that is non-conforming. But- that is to be expected.

I just Googled - and it said there were 497,000 employees in 2018. It would be hard to get all of them on board with nonconforming mail.
They deliver 149.5 BILLION pieces of mail -- I can see why some people would like all mail to be machineable.

If you send a nonconforming size - you need to put extra postage on. I have sent and received envelopes -used for paintbrushes at the art supply store - that were 2"x10" and they go through. We always put 2-Forevers on them.

Somewhere on my blog, there is a link to an article about a woman who sits in front of a computer and tries to figure out addresses that other people can't figure out. Now that all the mail is scanned, they can send images to her. I can't find it right now, but will keep looking and find out if she is still there. I think she was in Utah.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: jeanwilson on October 26, 2019, 09:35:34 AM
Here is the article about the woman who decyphers addresses for the USPS

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/us/where-mail-with-illegible-addresses-goes-to-be-read.html

this article is even better as it tells about the training to work in the decipher dept
and the dead letter office where they open mail to see if they can figure out where it should go

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/have-bad-handwriting-us-postal-service-has-your-back-180957629/
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 26, 2019, 02:42:51 PM
Just last week, I was putting up a display of mail art at our main PO - and the customer service representative assured me that there are lots of people within the USPS who love mail art - which would include beautiful tiny writing. She also agreed with me that there are other workers who are annoyed with anything that is non-conforming. But- that is to be expected.
There are indeed some USPO workers who like mail art. When I mailed martini shakers with Spencerian addresses on them last year for the improbable items exchange, my favorite clerks really enjoyed them.

Did you happen to take a photo of your display? I'd love to see it.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 26, 2019, 02:51:40 PM
Here is the article about the woman who decyphers addresses for the USPS

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/us/where-mail-with-illegible-addresses-goes-to-be-read.html

this article is even better as it tells about the training to work in the decipher dept
and the dead letter office where they open mail to see if they can figure out where it should go

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/have-bad-handwriting-us-postal-service-has-your-back-180957629/
@jeanwilson
Thanks for these very interesting articles and for these tiny addressed envelopes, most encouraging. Even if the OCR can't make out the tiny print, the scan is probably enlargeable, and, if written clearly enough, would be quite legible.
Would you like to receive one? If so, pm me your address.

Thanks so much for the articles
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on October 30, 2019, 12:44:20 PM
Michael,

I received the postcard you sent on the 25th with the 1/18th inch x-height.  Quite legible!!  And it actually came on the 28th, I believe, but I wasn't able to post because of the power outages here.  So, not only did it make it, but it did so in very good time. 

I love the postcard, by the way!
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on October 30, 2019, 03:45:35 PM
Michael,

I received the postcard you sent on the 25th with the 1/18th inch x-height.  Quite legible!!  And it actually came on the 28th, I believe, but I wasn't able to post because of the power outages here.  So, not only did it make it, but it did so in very good time. 

I love the postcard, by the way!
@Bianca M
Glad you received it. Three days is a record from here to CA. It often seems to take a week. Did the card have a barcode or extra cancellation on it? It should have gone through the reader with no problem.
Let me know if/when you receive the next one, so I can see if the small writing affects delivery time, and if they attach a barcode to it. It's on a much smaller envelope with extra postage written in about 1/32 inch script. Not great calligraphy, but I could easily read it without magnification. It went out to you on Monday, Oct 28.
Hope you remain safe from the fires. Sounds terrible.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on October 30, 2019, 07:35:23 PM
@AnasaziWrites Interestingly, there wasn't a barcode on it.  The only marking was the postmark.  Yes, the speed in which it got here was astonishing!  I'll keep an eye out for the next one.

I am safe, and all my family is safe, thank you.  This is proving to becoming a difficult time of year here.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Erica McPhee on October 31, 2019, 08:37:06 AM
What good fun!  ;D And I LOVE the tiny envelope with tiny writing. When I was a child, I had a little book called the "Teeny tiny woman." I always loved miniatures. I feel an exchange theme coming on...  ;)

One suggestion is to do what Schin does when sending something she isn't sure will make it. She puts the envelope in a clear envelope and includes a typed address strip on it. Or you could use a removable label at the bottom. But I suppose that ruins the fun of the challenge.  :-\
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on November 04, 2019, 06:46:55 PM
@AnasaziWrites Look at what just showed up!  I am so impressed and delighted!  Your writing is really wonderful to look at at this tiny size (well, at any size).  I just had to post it here.  Such fun!

Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Katie Leavens on November 05, 2019, 11:40:13 AM
I am loving following this writing small saga! Thanks for sharing your adventures @AnasaziWrites and @Bianca M
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 05, 2019, 02:15:16 PM
Quote
Look at what just showed up!  I am so impressed and delighted!  Your writing is really wonderful to look at at this tiny size (well, at any size).  I just had to post it here.  Such fun!
@Bianca M
So glad you got it and liked it. Interestingly, it arrived in about a week, which is typical for mail from here to CA, although not as fast as the previous postcard of standard size. It's obvious it was handled by a human--a second cancellation, which was unnecessary. In fact, if I were to hazard a guess, I would guess that that angry-looking scribble of a cancellation was done by someone who is not a fan of "art mail." Why take the time to desecrate such a beautiful stamp? A simple line or two would have sufficed. As Jean mentioned, some people in the USPS are fans of "art mail", and some are not.
A second "tiny envelope has arrived at its destination, which I will post shortly.

Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 05, 2019, 02:28:04 PM
Here is the second tiny envelope to have arrived safely. It's slightly smaller than the first as you can see by its size compared with the stamp. It arrived in two days--no delay in delivery because of size. My friendly clerk at the post office hand cancelled it and tossed it into the bin with the other hand cancelled items including packages--no special handling. Happy it didn't get lost in the rolling cart as big as four bales of hay.

There are two more tiny envelopes on the way to others. Hope to hear from them if/when delivered.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on November 05, 2019, 02:46:11 PM
Interestingly, it arrived in about a week, which is typical for mail from here to CA, although not as fast as the previous postcard of standard size. It's obvious it was handled by a human--a second cancellation, which was unnecessary. In fact, if I were to hazard a guess, I would guess that that angry-looking scribble of a cancellation was done by someone who is not a fan of "art mail." Why take the time to desecrate such a beautiful stamp? A simple line or two would have sufficed. As Jean mentioned, some people in the USPS are fans of "art mail", and some are not.

Yes, I was a bit amused at the time difference, noting that the second one, which took longer, was more on par with standard delivery time.  If anything, I'd have thought it'd take longer because of the non-standard size.

I was not, however, amused by the (as you noted) unnecessary cancellation, especially because of how much I love the stamp you used.  It was already hand cancelled, but perhaps a second person thought it didn't cover the stamp enough.  Still, a bit much.  Once I received something that was similarly marked up, but the pen marks were so deep you could see through to the other side - LOTS of aggression went into that! 
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on November 05, 2019, 02:50:39 PM
My friendly clerk at the post office hand cancelled it and tossed it into the bin with the other hand cancelled items including packages--no special handling. Happy it didn't get lost in the rolling cart as big as four bales of hay.

It actually is impressive it didn't get lost in there!
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: KristinT on November 07, 2019, 01:14:08 AM
Just wanted to hop in and agree that this saga is very intriguing and amusing to keep abreast of!  Thanks so much @AnasaziWrites and @Bianca M for keeping us all informed!
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 10, 2019, 12:09:14 PM
Smallest envelope yet went out on Wednesday and is said to be delivered. I photographed it before I sent it (attached). It's about 2 1/4 X 3 1/2 inches. X-height about 1/64. For size reference, the word "Isabella" in the stamp is 1/32nd.
The paper is now the limiting factor. The lines making up the small letters are about 1/200 to 1/300 in width and making them any closer together, the ink bleeds and closes the spaces in the e's and o'e for example. I have received a good suggestion from a friend regards paper and will report results after a little experimentation.

I'll post a photo of the delivered envelope when I get it.
 
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 11, 2019, 11:47:31 AM
I've just received a photo of the delivered envelope. It arrived at its destination in the normal amount of time, without barcode (front or back) or second cancellation. Yay. The local USPS must be friendly (or at least tolerant of) towards this small size envelope. I think the extra postage may help.
Still have a couple in the mail somewhere, hopefully that will make to the recipients.

I think I'll do a couple more.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Cyril Jayant on November 12, 2019, 08:06:59 AM
Beautiful and amazing how they were written.

I have a small collection of old vintage envelop. Among them I have several mini size ones like them.
None of them have any of Spencerian or beautiful writing. They were the one done by the normal folks in that period. But they are nice and unique.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Erica McPhee on November 12, 2019, 10:06:27 AM
What fun!!! And they are so elegant and beautiful! We *must* do a tiny exchange next year.

And I agree - someone at the post office was a bit passive aggressive with that cancellation. Kind of like, "I'll show you how much I liked having to hand cancel this envelope and ruin your beautiful mail."  >:( :(
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AAAndrew on November 12, 2019, 12:11:20 PM
This is quite interesting. Now I'm going to have to try some tiny writing.

As for the original letter, by 1850 steel pens were quite common. It was the quills which were becoming rarer. Most pens at that point were British imports, with the Gillott 303 as the most popular.  Perry pens were also popular. The stiffer, wider pens (like the oval point, and stub nibs) weren't popular, or even produced, until later in the century.

The seal on the back was called a wafer. The early ones were created out of a "batter of fine wheaten flour, the gluten of which is of an adhesive nature, mixed with white of egg, isinglass, and coloring agents..." (from Western Writing Implements by Michael Finlay)  This mixture was heated and pressed into a sheet, which, when dry, was cut into circles, and other shapes. It was licked and helped hold the paper together. They were sold in boxes in various colors, and shapes.

Wafers fell out of favor around 1840 when the gummed envelop came into fashion, about the same time as postage stamps. Some less complex wafers, which were really just gummed pieces of paper and which imitated earlier wax seals were still sold. That may be what you have, but it could be an earlier form, it's hard to tell from the photo.

Being me, I would love to know what pen you're using for writing this small, @AnasaziWrites .
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 12, 2019, 03:56:23 PM
This is quite interesting. Now I'm going to have to try some tiny writing.
@AAAndrew
Wonderful. Would love to see it

Quote
As for the original letter, by 1850 steel pens were quite common. It was the quills which were becoming rarer. Most pens at that point were British imports, with the Gillott 303 as the most popular.  Perry pens were also popular. The stiffer, wider pens (like the oval point, and stub nibs) weren't popular, or even produced, until later in the century.

The seal on the back was called a wafer. The early ones were created out of a "batter of fine wheaten flour, the gluten of which is of an adhesive nature, mixed with white of egg, isinglass, and coloring agents..." (from Western Writing Implements by Michael Finlay)  This mixture was heated and pressed into a sheet, which, when dry, was cut into circles, and other shapes. It was licked and helped hold the paper together. They were sold in boxes in various colors, and shapes.

Wafers fell out of favor around 1840 when the gummed envelop came into fashion, about the same time as postage stamps. Some less complex wafers, which were really just gummed pieces of paper and which imitated earlier wax seals were still sold. That may be what you have, but it could be an earlier form, it's hard to tell from the photo.

That's very interesting about wafers. The envelope itself is just a folded piece of paper, no gum, so perhaps it's the earlier form you mention. It definitely is three dimensional, as opposed to a printed design and is quite complex for such a little thing. I'll have to look into this area. Fascinating.

Quote
Being me, I would love to know what pen you're using for writing this small
For 1/32 x-ht, a vintage Gillott 170 works best overall. A G303 is not sharp enough, nor is a Gillott 604ef, both of which I use for 1/18 and larger.  I've tried an Esterbrook 355, which might be a little sharper, but it's a little too flexible. Less than 1/32, a Gillott 659 Crow quill does nicely and has the needed stiffness. It doesn't lay down much ink, though, so the lettering is somewhat faint. I may try sumi ink to get blacker letters. All the letters so far have been done with McCaffery's Penman'sBlack ink (not the gloss kind--that stuff takes forever to dry).
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on November 12, 2019, 07:17:32 PM
Wow!!!  I love that these even smaller pieces are making it through.  @Erica McPhee, I love the tiny mail exchange idea!
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AAAndrew on November 13, 2019, 02:54:09 PM
As evidence for my claim that in 1850 steel pens were common, I present a few ads from one day's issue of the New York Evening Post in 1844.

First ad for Lambert & Lane, Stationers.
Perry, Gillott, Windle and Mosely were british Manufacturers.
Wright was an American manufacturer, made in NYC but also sold widely
Hayden was an American manufacturer based in western Massachusetts (my article on Josiah Hayden comes out this month in the latest issue of The Pennant, from the Pen Collectors of America /plug)

Second Ad
Charles Cushing Wright was a famous engraver, sculptor of medallions and die sinks to make coins, who also made steel pens for a short time. (and will be the subject of my next article coming out early next year)  His partner, J. C. Barnet, was a publisher (co-published the newspaper "The Age"), an entrepreneur and eventually became the treasurer of the Burton Theater, the first high-class theater on Broadway.

Third ad
A set of ads for Gillott pens from their American distributor, Henry Jessop. Also an ad for a new shipment of Russian quills to David Felt. Russia was one of the top producers of quills, along with Holland and Germany. And the uppermost ad is for Levi Brown's gold pens. Levi Brown was the first commercial producer of gold pens tipped with the new process ensuring the iridium tips stayed on.

For the last ad, I wanted to show that it was not just New York City where you could find steel pens. This is from 1839 in Kentucky, still considered, to some degree, the wild west. Louisville had only become an incorporated town 11 years earlier, and the wild forests came right up to the city limits. It was really only a city because of early river boat trade along the Ohio River. It had a population of less than 10,000 people, yet, you could buy steel pens from Perry, and Gillott, including Perry's India Rubber pens, as well as pens made by Charles Atwood, an early American pen pioneer from New England. You could use these pens with the famous ink from England, Stephens' Writing Fluid.

So, it's not at all far-fetched to see steel pens being used in 1850. It would have been more unusual to see quills still being used. It was mainly folks way out away from towns, as well as very old-fashioned establishments where you still found them. (But even the Bank of England was starting to transition over to steel pens by this point)

Thus, endeth the lesson.

 
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on November 13, 2019, 04:24:14 PM
The seal on the back was called a wafer. The early ones were created out of a "batter of fine wheaten flour, the gluten of which is of an adhesive nature, mixed with white of egg, isinglass, and coloring agents..." (from Western Writing Implements by Michael Finlay)  This mixture was heated and pressed into a sheet, which, when dry, was cut into circles, and other shapes. It was licked and helped hold the paper together. They were sold in boxes in various colors, and shapes.

Wafers fell out of favor around 1840 when the gummed envelop came into fashion, about the same time as postage stamps. Some less complex wafers, which were really just gummed pieces of paper and which imitated earlier wax seals were still sold. That may be what you have, but it could be an earlier form, it's hard to tell from the photo.

@AAAndrew this is fascinating - thank you for sharing.  My first thought was that it'd be neat to try to make a wafer, but then I read about isinglass.  Hmm.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Erica McPhee on November 15, 2019, 12:00:40 PM
This arrived yesterday! I giggle every time I look at it. I am just marveling over how tiny you wrote @AnasaziWrites ! It's incredible. Even my 14 year old was impressed!  ;D
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 19, 2019, 02:46:01 PM
Quote
  My first thought was that it'd be neat to try to make a wafer, but then I read about isinglass.  Hmm.
@Bianca M
Not a fan of isinglass either, but I've run across a modern recipe without it if you're (or anyone else) interested. The article also includes the evolving etiquette of using them in olden days. Sounds like fun to me.
https://herreputationforaccomplishment.wordpress.com/category/letter-writing/wafers/ (https://herreputationforaccomplishment.wordpress.com/category/letter-writing/wafers/)
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 19, 2019, 02:49:55 PM
The last of the small envelopes has arrived and received most rude treatment. But it did get there, so there's that. They felt the need to draw a box around the address in order to, I guess, draw attention to it.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Erica McPhee on November 20, 2019, 10:55:21 AM
I suppose we should give them props for getting it there. Such a shame though. But I suspect what happened was it went through the machine first, the machine processed it but then it was kicked out and someone had to write the address in the corner. But … since it was upside down, they had to cancel it again by hand.

Bravo to you Mike. They were gorgeous and a delight to see!  :D
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on November 20, 2019, 11:48:36 AM
Not a fan of isinglass either, but I've run across a modern recipe without it if you're (or anyone else) interested. The article also includes the evolving etiquette of using them in olden days. Sounds like fun to me.
https://herreputationforaccomplishment.wordpress.com/category/letter-writing/wafers/ (https://herreputationforaccomplishment.wordpress.com/category/letter-writing/wafers/)

Thank you for sending this!  I especially enjoyed reading the section on the etiquette of their usage.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AAAndrew on November 21, 2019, 02:00:17 PM
I can never approach Anasazi's wonderful writing. I can, though, have fun with small writing.

This is fun! Now I need to find some of my really fine nibs.

Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 21, 2019, 02:58:32 PM
I can never approach Anasazi's wonderful writing. I can, though, have fun with small writing.

This is fun! Now I need to find some of my really fine nibs.
This is good.What nib were you using for these words? A gillott 170 (vintage) works well.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 21, 2019, 03:06:46 PM
I suppose we should give them props for getting it there. Such a shame though. But I suspect what happened was it went through the machine first, the machine processed it but then it was kicked out and someone had to write the address in the corner. But … since it was upside down, they had to cancel it again by hand.

Bravo to you Mike. They were gorgeous and a delight to see!  :D
Actually, the red cancel on the stamp was first--by hand at my local PO. I suspect, when they ran it through the machine upside down, it obscured the address and they then needed to write it (larger) for the delivery person.
Impressed a 14 year old? Wow. Didn't think that could be done by anyone over 30.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 21, 2019, 03:25:30 PM
@jeanwilson
Hi Jean,
I tried writing on rice--very doable. I ended up holding the grain by pushing it into a glue stick and holding the stick. Worked great. The thing is, though, only short words were possible (perhaps I should get long grained rice), and monoline letters were fine, but getting the shades for Spencerian were quite difficult on the curved, uneven surface.
So why not try other food stuffs?
Here's a piece of #81 Rotini. One can get the whole alphabet plus numbers on this baby. I bet one could get a novella on a box of spaghetti--the form is like built in guidelines, too.

Better get back to the desk and write something useful now. My wife is getting suspicious when I keep returning to the kitchen with pen in hand.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: jeanwilson on November 21, 2019, 03:50:31 PM
Wonderful ----
can't wait to see what else you come up with.

Do you know about edible book teas?
Big April Fool's Day events
 
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AAAndrew on November 21, 2019, 05:49:10 PM
I can never approach Anasazi's wonderful writing. I can, though, have fun with small writing.

This is fun! Now I need to find some of my really fine nibs.
This is good.What nib were you using for these words? A gillott 170 (vintage) works well.

I just rooted around through the small piles of nibs on my desk. It’s a rather obscure George Hughes #500 Public Pen. It looked like it might work and so tried it upside down. I know I have finer. There’s a Massag around here somewhere that’s super sharp.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: RD5 on November 24, 2019, 02:50:53 AM
What fun!!! And they are so elegant and beautiful! We *must* do a tiny exchange next year.

And I agree - someone at the post office was a bit passive aggressive with that cancellation. Kind of like, "I'll show you how much I liked having to hand cancel this envelope and ruin your beautiful mail."  >:( :(

I would avoid reading too much into it. Employees at the Postal Service have a lot to do and a lot of pressure to do things right. I doubt they would expend the extra time and energy to express anger. In fact, I think that the only reason that their would be dislike of art mail, is the extra time it takes.

Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: jeanwilson on November 25, 2019, 07:17:39 AM
What fun!!! And they are so elegant and beautiful! We *must* do a tiny exchange next year.

And I agree - someone at the post office was a bit passive aggressive with that cancellation. Kind of like, "I'll show you how much I liked having to hand cancel this envelope and ruin your beautiful mail."  >:( :(

I would avoid reading too much into it. Employees at the Postal Service have a lot to do and a lot of pressure to do things right. I doubt they would expend the extra time and energy to express anger. In fact, I think that the only reason that their would be dislike of art mail, is the extra time it takes.

@RD5 - you are very kind to give every hardworking postal worker the benefit of the doubt. However, I had an experience where a clerk at the counter did the hand cancelling and then took a different - un-necessary rubber stamp -- and added three unsightly impressions on each envelope. I didn't say anything - I just let it go. A few weeks later, a friend of mine ran into the same clerk and this time, the clerk took a bold marker and circled the address on her very pretty envelope - for no reason. There were some decorative elements on the envelope, but the address was very clear. My friend was sad about it, but did not say anything. She told me about it and based on some identifying features, we know it was the same person. Because I have several friends who work for the PO, I was able to get the first names of all the clerks that work at that branch. I am going to send each of them a pretty envelope - thanking them for the good job they are doing. Hopefully, the person who has been annoyed with the decorated mail will lighten up once they have their own piece of mail art. Hopefully, out of the 947,000 PO employees, there is only one who goes out of their way to ruin mail art.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 25, 2019, 01:59:22 PM
Because I have several friends who work for the PO, I was able to get the first names of all the clerks that work at that branch. I am going to send each of them a pretty envelope - thanking them for the good job they are doing. Hopefully, the person who has been annoyed with the decorated mail will lighten up once they have their own piece of mail art. Hopefully, out of the 947,000 PO employees, there is only one who goes out of their way to ruin mail art.
It pays big time to have friends in the PO, particularly the clerks who take in the mail. This is a wonderful approach to making them friends, or at least more tolerant of items in any way outside the recommended guidelines. Very generous of you.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on November 25, 2019, 02:11:09 PM
In a recent search (and then purchase) of a high precision t-square/ruler, I also needed a very fine pencil, and found one. With a 0.2 mm lead, it's actually easier to write at say, 1/64 inch x-ht with this pencil than with ink and nib, as there is no bleeding of the lead. If you want to write small, try out this pencil. Works great.
(It can be found at Amazon or John Neal. Just use the link "Supplies page" on the top of the FF page you are on)
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on December 06, 2019, 10:35:01 AM
This ruler is the bees knees for writing small. I'll post this in the tools and supplies section where it belongs with further explanation, but for small work, this really helps.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on December 30, 2019, 10:26:41 AM
The seal on the back was called a wafer. The early ones were created out of a "batter of fine wheaten flour, the gluten of which is of an adhesive nature, mixed with white of egg, isinglass, and coloring agents..." (from Western Writing Implements by Michael Finlay)  This mixture was heated and pressed into a sheet, which, when dry, was cut into circles, and other shapes. It was licked and helped hold the paper together. They were sold in boxes in various colors, and shapes.

Wafers fell out of favor around 1840 when the gummed envelop came into fashion, about the same time as postage stamps. Some less complex wafers, which were really just gummed pieces of paper and which imitated earlier wax seals were still sold. That may be what you have, but it could be an earlier form, it's hard to tell from the photo.

@AAAndrew this is fascinating - thank you for sharing.  My first thought was that it'd be neat to try to make a wafer, but then I read about isinglass.  Hmm.
@AAAndrew
@Bianca M
Newly arrived from a London auction are these two wafer sealers, so now we can seal envelopes the old old fashioned way, once we make some seals. I was amazed at how small and delicate these are.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: Bianca M on December 31, 2019, 02:24:50 PM
Newly arrived from a London auction are these two wafer sealers, so now we can seal envelopes the old old fashioned way, once we make some seals. I was amazed at how small and delicate these are.

Ohhhhh my goodness!  How delightful.  I'm so glad you found these, and am eager to see the seals they produce!
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on January 02, 2020, 08:55:57 AM
Newly arrived from a London auction are these two wafer sealers, so now we can seal envelopes the old old fashioned way, once we make some seals. I was amazed at how small and delicate these are.

Ohhhhh my goodness!  How delightful.  I'm so glad you found these, and am eager to see the seals they produce!
@Bianca M
The smaller of the two would be appropriate for Valentine's Day, and if we have an exchange then, I'll use it.
Title: Re: Writing Small
Post by: AnasaziWrites on January 27, 2021, 01:36:02 PM
Newly arrived from a London auction are these two wafer sealers, so now we can seal envelopes the old old fashioned way, once we make some seals. I was amazed at how small and delicate these are.

Ohhhhh my goodness!  How delightful.  I'm so glad you found these, and am eager to see the seals they produce!
@Bianca M
And so you shall, presently.