Items related to The Practice of Letters: The Hofer Collection of Writing...

The Practice of Letters: The Hofer Collection of Writing Manuals, 1514–1800 (Houghton Library Publications) - Softcover

Becker, David P.

 
9780914630180: The Practice of Letters: The Hofer Collection of Writing Manuals, 1514–1800 (Houghton Library Publications)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0914630180 ISBN 13: 9780914630180
Publisher: Houghton Library of the Harvard College Library, 2005

Synopsis

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.

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About the Author

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

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Publisher
Houghton Library of the Harvard College Library
Publication date
2005
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0914630180
ISBN 13 
9780914630180
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
152