This unusual and interesting book is a fascinating account of the world of Chinese writing. It examines Chinese space and the political and social use of writing as propaganda, a publicity booster and as a ladder for social climbing.

The traditional art of Illumination - the creation of elaborate, decorated letters and initials - is now attracting new enthusiasts. It reached its apogee in the monasteries of medieval Europe and was practised with great skill and artistry. Embellished with gold leaf, the illuminated letters of those early scribes seemed to reflect light, as though they were indeed 'illuminated'. Illuminated Letters presents step-by-step instructions for recreating illuminated alphabets from six historical periods, including Celtic, Gothic and Romanesque. Diagrams for upper- and lower-case letters are accompanied by ideas for borders and decorations, and full instructions for gilding. Each section also explores ways in which the illuminated letters can be adapted to create a truly personal style, while a gallery of modern examples will inspire further creativity.

A joyful exploration of modern calligraphy, with exercises and ideas to help you get creative with ink.

Modern calligraphy has taken social media by storm and inspired thousands of people to put pen to paper and get involved with ink. For years, handwriting has been in danger of becoming lost to keyboards and smartphones, with few of us picking up a pen to do much more than scrawl a shopping list or take hasty notes in meetings so, for professional calligrapher Betty Soldi, this increase in interest is welcome.

In Inkspired, Betty encourages you to reconnect with handwriting and discover the calming, creative joy of calligraphy. The book contains guidelines and practice pages, and its calligraphy-friendly paper and unique lie-flat binding mean you can write straight into the book with ease. Once you have had a go at her own `Alphabetty' of calligraphic letters, you are encouraged to develop your own individual style, with a section of projects, from invitations to writing on crockery.

Learn to embrace mistakes, play around with new ideas - Betty encourages practicing not just with pen and paper, but writing on mirrors in lipstick or etching messages into a plant leaf - and express yourself with beautiful lettering and flourishes. Betty's mantra is `Practice makes progress', and with her infectious enthusiasm and invaluable guidance, even the most inexperienced of inkers will find their scribbles transformed.

Spirited history, comprehensive instruction manual covers 13 important writing styles (ca. 4th century thru 15th). Fascinating facts about Roman Rustic, Uncial, Carolingian Minuscule, Early Gothic, eight other styles; all examples beautifully photographed. Detailed directions for duplicating medieval techniques with modern tools. 232 illustrations.

Introduction to the use of runes as a practical script for a variety of purposes in Anglo-Saxon England. Runes are quite frequently mentioned in modern writings, usually imprecisely as a source of mystic knowledge, power or insight. This book sets the record straight. It shows runes working as a practical script for a variety of purposes in early English times, among both indigenous Anglo-Saxons and incoming Vikings. In a scholarly yet readable way it examines the introduction of the runic alphabet (the futhorc) to England in the fifth and sixth centuries, the forms and values of its letters, and the ways in which it developed, up until its decline at the end of the Anglo-Saxon period. It discusses how runes were used for informal and day-to-day purposes, on formal monuments, as decorative letters in prestigious manuscripts, for owners' or makers' names on everyday objects, perhaps even in private letters. For the first time, the book presents, together with earlier finds, the many runic objects discovered over the last twenty years, with a range of inscriptions on bone, metal and stone, even including tourists' scratched signatures found on the pilgrimage routes through Italy. It gives an idea of the immense range of informationon language and social history contained in these unique documents. The late R.I. PAGE was former Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Cambridge.

Part of the Secrets of Modern Calligraphy series, this modern calligraphy practice pad will keep you inspired and develop your love of lettering. With 3 different types of guidelines for you to fill with your own calligraphy and alphabet styles to copy, this practice pad is the perfect companion to Kirsten Burke's Secrets of Modern Calligraphy workbook. With tips, tricks and techniques from Kirsten Burke, you will have the chance to practise everything you've learnt in her book and start to create stunning projects for yourself, your family and friends.

First published in 1969, English Cursive Book Hands rapidly established itself as a key resource for the study and teaching of palaeography. It covers the changes in handwriting that arose from the mid-twelfth century, tracking the growth and development of the cursive script that came to dominate book production in medieval England. This reprint is a re-issue of the 1979 second edition published by Scolar Press. This study sets out the nature of the developments which took place in English book hands, from the mid-twelfth century, largely determined by two factors: the increasing demand for books, and the increase in the size of the works to be copied. The secularization of learning and the rise of the universities created a voracious demand for texts and commentaries. At the same time improving standards of literacy led to a demand from a wide range of patrons for books of a more general nature. In such circumstances speed and ease of writing became increasingly important. Scribes began to use different kinds of handwriting for different classes of books, and as a result a new 'hierarchy' of scripts arose, each with its own sequence of development. Towards the end of the thirteenth century the cursive script which had recently been evolved for the preparation of documents was introduced into books. A hierarchy also arose in the cursive script itself, as scribes began to devise more than one way of writing depending on the degree of formality they required. Eventually the varieties of cursive usurped the functions of other scripts in the copying of nearly all kinds of books and documents. English Cursive Book Hands illustrates the developments which took place in the cursive handwriting used in England for writing books.

Calm Calligraphy will teach you the ancient art of the Scriptorium - copying letters, words and phrases - which helps you focus your thoughts and relax your mind. Learn the beautiful letter forms with step-by-step instructions, then refine your technique by copying inspirational words and phrases in the dedicated workbook section. By practising the meditative art of calligraphy you will gain a deeper appreciation of the beauty of order and balance. Ease your worries, improve your concentration and feel your spirits lift with each stroke of your pen. Malleus studied with the most recognized international masters of calligraphy and founded the Antica Bottega Amanuense in Recanati, now the greatest Scriptorium in the world.

The word "calligraphy" literally means "beautiful writing." It is an art form that can be found in most civilizations with a written script. Originally developed to stress the importance of culture, religion and philosophy, over time calligraphy in most languages has developed into a purely artistic expression. In Japan, kanji characters from the panese writing system are used in calligraphy. "An Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy" is an exploration of this Asian art form, and examines how calligraphic poetry developed in Japan. Written by a Japanese shodo master, "An Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy" is a wonderful introduction to a beautiful art.

In Modern Calligraphy, internationally acclaimed designer Molly Suber Thorpe teaches you how to create your own contemporary pointed pen calligraphy, breaking down the process into simple steps with the help of over 250 colour photographs and illustrations for easy guidance. With step-by-step instructions and simple tips, Modern Calligraphy includes: - 20 inspirational projects for weddings, entertainment and personal stationery - Guidance on use of pen and ink, watercolour and gouache - How to digitise your calligraphy - Special instructions for left-handed calligraphers With stunning ideas, careful guided practice and Molly's helpful tips, Modern Calligraphy can help anyone create their own gorgeous calligraphy pieces.

For some time in the distant past, hand-lettering used to be a highly-regarded skill to master and was ubiquitous via publications and public signages. Although society relies heavily on keyboards and screens for communication today, a growing number of creative practitioners have been busy reviving the seemingly-lost art in recent years, in a bid to return the sincerity and warmth of the human touch to our predominantly digital lives. Brimming with character, hand-lettering serves as the bridge between old-school calligraphy and modern typography to bring nuance back into an age of uniformity. Rereleased in conjunction with Victionary's 20th anniversary, the 2021 boxset edition of 'Handstyle Lettering' comes with a beginner-friendly calligraphy pen-and-nib set crafted by renowned British companies Manuscript and D. Leonardt & Co. which--coupled with new projects, interviews, and an expanded step-by-step guide--serves to help aspiring creatives kickstart their hand-lettering journey.