The Practice of Letters: The Hofer Collection of Writing Manuals, 1514-1800

by David P. Becker

Overview

After the invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century, the art of writing in manuscript took on fresh meaning. Printed manuals for the teaching of lettering and handwriting quickly appeared, marketed to a growing literate readership anxious to express humanistic values through fine writing. Mixing the aesthetics of calligraphy with innovative new means of printing, writing manuals thus reflect both the proliferation of print technology and the growing social value of a fine hand.

Philip Hofer, Founding Curator of Printing and Graphic Arts at the Houghton Library, was long fascinated with the printed works of writing masters and amassed one of the great collections of early penmanship textbooks before his death in 1984. David P. Becker’s catalogue tells the story of this collection while amply illustrating the diversity and expressive power of the arts of the pen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780914630180
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	03/31/2005
Series:	Houghton Library Publications , #6
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David P. Becker is the former Assistant Curator of Printing and Graphics Arts, Houghton Library at Harvard College Library, Harvard University.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Hofer Collection of Writing Manuals

1. Italy—Sixteenth Century

2. Spain—Sixteenth Century

3. France—Sixteenth Century

4. Netherlands—Sixteenth Century

5. Germany and Switzerland—Sixteenth Century

6. Italy—Seventeenth Century

7. Spain—Seventeenth Century

8. France—Seventeenth Century

9. Netherlands—Seventeenth Century

10. Germany—Seventeenth Century

11. Great Britain—Seventeenth Century

12. Italy—Eighteenth Century

13. Spain & Portugal—Eighteenth Century

14. France—Eighteenth Century

15. Netherlands—Eighteenth Century

16. Germany, Switzerland, & Austria—Eighteenth Century

17. Great Britain—Eighteenth Century

18. United States—Eighteenth Century

Cited References

Index of Writing Masters

Index of Engravers