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Project - Handcopying A Small Book - Epictetus's Enchiridion


peekay

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Recently completed handcopying a short book, the Greek stoic classic The Enchiridion by Epictetus.

 

Not intended as a formal calligraphic work but as a personal exercise to write an extended piece in relatively rapid cursive italic in a bound notebook with blank pages - consquently there are variations in size and spacing.

 

It was an interesting exercise with some good lessons.

 

Here is a scan of all the pages - http://smu.gs/1l0ulwm

 

 

 

 

 

 

post-6892-0-80308600-1408307660_thumb.jpg

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Interesting project. How long did it take you? Why did you choose that particular work?

The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards.

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Hi,

 

It took about 15 hours, but spaced out over several weeks, just a few minutes a day.

 

I chose this work because as books go, it's relatively short (about 14,000 words). And the words/themes were resonant.

 

I am currently experimenting with getting it printed, like here - http://blur.by/1rLyiVQ (although I would recommend anybody buying it now).

 

I'm working now on Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, which is four times as long.

 

Thanks for the question.

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Nice job. So, what pen/nib and ink did you use?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Nice job. So, what pen/nib and ink did you use?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Thank you Ruth,

 

Nothing exotic I'm afraid. I used a Parker Duofold International - medium italic nib (one of the last models made in the UK). Lamy blue ink. This is my everyday pen and the writing is my daily cursive. Another forum member asked which paper, this was written on a Moleskine Large Notebook (5" x 8.25") with blank pages (unruled).

 

Attached is a picture of another transcription in the Moleskine, with the pen.

post-6892-0-53248400-1408334137_thumb.jpg

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That's quite an exercise to do, peekay....

 

Your writing looks great!

 

Thanks for sharing it with us....

 

:thumbup:

FP Addict & Pretty Nice Guy

 

 

 

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That's quite an exercise to do, peekay....

 

Your writing looks great!

 

Thanks for sharing it with us....

 

:thumbup:

 

 

Is it just my ol' eyes, or did you start using invisible ink for writing messages?.......... ;)

FP Addict & Pretty Nice Guy

 

 

 

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Is it just my ol' eyes, or did you start using invisible ink for writing messages?.......... ;)

Oops. Thank you for the comment ArchiMark.

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Impressive! How did you write all of that without making mistakes? I am clumsy and misspell words all the time, especially when I am writing italic!

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman

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Hi Rare,

 

There are a few mistakes. One of the objectives of the exercise was to dive into writing an extended piece in a bound notebook (could not redo a page) without lines and working with the inevitable mistakes without having an 'out', i.e., crossing out words, whiteover, etc. In all, there was about 20 errors in 14,000 words.

 

Thanks for your comments.

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Great stuff!

 

I have been doing Luthers Small Catechism for folk down in Kenya.

I was using the Muji A5 exercise books and dip nibs.

Currently I am on books 11 and 12, after which, I think I will have a break for a while :)

It is great practice for ones handwriting and I have gone between Italic and Spencerian to Palmers.

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