Spencerian Books

[FlowerCityLetters]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share a few vintage Spencerian/Ornamental Penmanship books I am lucky to have. In my post on the introduction thread I got into how I happened upon calligraphy, and in particular Spencerian. Long story short I've always been obsessed with people's handwriting and old documents and ledger books. When my bf brought home an awesome ledger book with incredible handwriting from an estate sale one day I decided I wanted to learn calligraphy.

Once I started to teach myself my boyfriend remember his 96 year-old great great aunt used to have a few calligraphy books up in her attic. So he dug them out and gave them to me . And that's when my love affair with Spencerian started. The 2 books below are what he found: The New Spencerian Compendium of Penmanship by P.R. Spencer's Sons and Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship (a little damaged but mostly in great shape). I'm so lucky to have these and they have so much information and examples and they are just gorgeous. Here's a few pictures below - I'm not sure if these are available digitally anywhere but if anyone wants more pictures I can do that (with a better camera! my phone is awful, sorry about that). The inside of the Compendium is incredible, but I didn't want to post tons and tons of pictures (unless requested!).









I've tried showing other people the books because I'm so excited about them, but they just don't get it. Glad I found this place with like minded people! 

[YokePenCo]

Both wonderful books, very lucky to have early copies of them! They are available digitally at www.iampeth.com for download, there are many more you can download there as well

[Sarah Foutz]

What a treasure!! If someone showed these to me, they might not get them back for few days.... I'm sure it feels like you're holding a piece of history. 

[Judy G]

Wow, Elaina! Lucky you!!

[Roseann]

That's wonderful Elaina!
What a treasure!
Thank you for sharing.

[Erica McPhee]

Oh my word! Snoopy dance! Are you kidding - I would have been elated! That is so awesome. SCORE! 

[Chandra]

WOO ! I wish when i asked my girlfriend, she'll also dug out these awesome books for me XD

[AndyT]

Splendid!  Those are two of the most useful books for Spencerian and Ornamental Penmanship. 

[SueL]

Wow! Those are fine books.

[NikkiB]

Oooooh <<grabby hands>> 

VERY nice xxx

[FlowerCityLetters]

Splendid!  Those are two of the most useful books for Spencerian and Ornamental Penmanship. 

Sooo helpful! And a little daunting. When I first started and was looking through the books I had a moment of oh god what did I get myself into this is impossible. But I couldn't stop looking and thankfully I didn't give up.

[Blotbot]

What fun to  have originals!

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

Wow those books are the peice of history!  You are lucky!

[schin]

Those are treasures! And so sentimental too as they were in the family

[FlowerCityLetters]

Those are treasures! And so sentimental too as they were in the family

Yes  . When I felt somewhat comfortable with showing his great great aunt that I was learning, she was so happy, and so happy her books were getting some use and a good home. She learned a little as a young woman but didn't keep up with it. She told me I wasn't allowed to stop haha.