The history of the writing styles, English Roundhand, also known as Copperplate
and its descendant American Engraver’s or Engrosser’s Script has been covered
in depth many times elsewhere. My purpose here, isn’t to go over old ground
yet again, but to attempt to demonstrate, with a couple of examples, some of the
differences between them as this still seems to be a subject of some confusion.
I decided that it would be best to write the same words in the two styles for direct
comparison. Also, they were written at the same x height and with the same
Esterbrook 357 nib in an oblique holder.
The example of English Roundhand here, is my attempt to simulate the lettering
in the 18th century “The Universal Penman”. The Engrosser’s Script example is
an attempt to copy the style of writing which can be found on the IAMPETH site.
The shaded downstrokes are wider in Engrosser’s Script and the ascender and
descender loops are much wider as is the lettering, overall. As a result this script
takes up markedly more horizontal space on the page.
Comparing the looped letters h in both examples highlights a major difference.
In Roundhand the downstroke is straight and evenly weighted from top to bottom
as soon as the turn has been completed.
In Engrosser’s Script, the downstroke tapers from top to bottom.
There are no tapered straight strokes in Copperplate.
Comparing the letters n.
In Engrosser’s Script, the upstroke hairline avoids touching the preceding shaded
downstroke. This is to avoid carry wet ink up into the hairline.
This practice isn’t followed in Copperplate where the hairline branches from the
shaded downstroke much higher than in Engrosser’s Script and emerges smoothly
with no break. This difference applies to all similar letters. There are, however,
examples of Copperplate where this separation of main stroke and hairline occurs,
but this is a deviation from the original style under discussion, here.
There are, of course, other differences but these are the main ones.
Engraver’s or Engrosser’s Script is sufficiently different to its progenitor, Copperplate
(English Roundhand) to warrant the difference in designations.
Engrosser’s Script is easiest found and studied on the IAMPETH site. There are
several excellent historic examples and the modern, extensive work on the subject
by Dr Joe Vitolo is a wonderful resource.
Copperplate is also covered to an extent on IAMPETH but the monumental “The
Universal Penman” produced in the 18th century, remains the best source for study.
As this lettering is intended as exemplars, it has been written slowly and carefully
and retouched where necessary.