As I am sure most of you know, I model my practical Italic writing hand on that of Bernardino Cataneo, a teaching master of Siena, Italy, circa 1545, whose minuscule letter forms I greatly admire. A number of years ago I purchased several first edition (1981) copies of



with the avowed aim of presenting them to outstanding students of mine and other worthy individuals with a passionate interest in beautiful and elegant Italic handwriting. That I have done over the years. I still have a few copies left and I think the time has come for me to dispose of them before it is too late. So here is what I propose to do here:

I will award two of these books (which are brand new in their original cellophane wrappers) at no cost to the individual members of FPN who post renditions in this thread that I judge to be the two that best exemplify beautiful and elegant Italic handwriting and the spirit of its execution. I am not interested in display calligraphy -- my own passion has always been for practical handwriting that can be used in everyday pursuits such as correspondence, journaling, notes and personal cards, etc. -- and so precise layout and decoration is not a consideration. I have no concern for cross-outs, corrections or insertions -- for they are inherent in practical handwriting -- as long as they are tastefully executed. Therefor you don't have to worry about post-mortem mistakes you discover in a rendition that you are sure you could never duplicate. Use your own style of Italic handwriting.

Here are the competition rules:

1. Renditions must be in the poster's own hand, scanned and displayed on this Board in this thread (see below).

2. I will host and post renditions for those who do not have access to a Web host -- send me an e-mail with the scan attached (see additional posting by Wim).

3. A fountain pen (no dip pens or reservoired quills/cane pens), black ink, and paper must be used (detailed as part of the submitted rendition).

4. Plain or base-lined paper must be used -- no graph or letter body guide paper allowed.

5. Rendition must be full page (or thereabouts) -- it is easy to render a few lines of writing -- much more difficult to render a page.

6. All renditions for consideration must be submitted by 15 October 2006 -- I will announce the winners here shortly after that date.

7. Winners will have to provide me with their shipping addresses via private e-mail.


Example of suggested submission -- layout and composition of rendition is at the discretion of the submitter, but it should be about this long

JP

Thank you for this--although my handwriting would never win anything. So good to see you posting again!

You have the most beautiful handwriting James, I wish that I could write a fraction as well as you.

Dawn

I hope to be able to participate in this competition. But wouldn't you know, Michael's doesn't have Pelikan Script pens anymore, and I wanted to use one for this. I'll figure something out.

What a wonderfully kind gesture, James! May you get a ton of wonderful entries. I know it'll be wonderful to see everyone's submission.

Thanks for showing us your beautiful lettering and giving everyone the opportunity to win such a wonderful gift!
-Allen

James,

So glad to see you posting again

My scribble would never make it so I won't insult you :doh: Just glad you are around again.

Keep it up with the flat cap and Whippet

Jim (Softie Southerner) :bunny1:

James,

Lovely idea

I've been drooling at your writing for a long time and await the results eagerly.

Personally I wouldn't dare - and that is not false modesty, just self awareness

Good luck everyone.

R

Hi James,

This is a very nice gesture!

If I may, I would like to suggest to make the competition run a little longer, let's say until the end of September or middle October. I'll ask our moderators to pin this topic as well, to promote visibility of this competition..


To all our members:

If anybody has any questions regarding attaching a scan or picture to a post, please do ask here, preferably a separate thread, and we'll explain.


James, thanks again!

Warm regards, Wim

Hello, Wim - you wrote:

.......... I would like to suggest to make the competition run a little longer, let's say until the end of September or middle October ...........

Yes, of course, Wim -- until 15 October -- I will edit my original posting to reflect this.

James

Thank you very kindly, James!

That way a few more of our members may be able to take part!

And thanks again once more for sharing your excellent exemplars! They're always a great sight to behold!

Warmest regards, Wim

James, it is very nice of you to host this competition. Thank you.

I will email you something in a few days, as soon as I can get a page scanned.

My italic is not very good, but I want to play. This is a lovely idea, thank you James, and thank you also for the wonderful inspiration.

Hi Stumpy,

Please post your scan here, if you don't mind.... If you need help, I'm only a PM, email or post away...

Thanks in advance!

Warm regards, Wim

Stumpy:

Wim's idea is best -- if you, or anyone else, did send a rendition to me as an e-mail attachment, I would load it on to my server and post it here in your name. However, please do follow Wim's guidance.

James

OK - will do, and thanks!

i want to enter the contest but haven't got a scanner--is their anyone i could fax my sample to and scan and post it for me?

Bernardino Cataneo was Writing Master (maestro di scrivere) at the University of Siena, Italy, c. 1544-1560. The only known surviving exemplars of his writing are twenty vellum leaves bound in a manuscript copybook, dated 4 February 1545, which is dedicated to Edward Raleigh, an Englishman (Signor Odoardo Ralyg Gentilhuomo) and which has been published in facsimile with introductory and explanatory notes by Stephen Harvard.

Here is the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America web page relating to this book that I am awarding as prizes in this competition -- includes an illustration of the book cover. Stephen Harvard -- An Italic Copybook. The Cataneo Manuscript:

http://search.abaa.org/dbp2/detail.php?booknr=279090274

Stephen Harvard was an outstanding calligrapher, illustrator, book designer, stonecutter and letter type designer. The following web pages contain biographical information relating to this remarkable craftsman and researcher:

The American Printing History Association Stephen Harvard Memorial Publications Fund:
http://www.printinghistory.org/htm/misc/pubfund.html

The Leab Awards:
http://www.rbms.info/committees/exhibition...rs/reg/021.html

Hi yiterp,

Can you fax to an email address? That way you have a scanned exemplar straight away, I mean, provided you fax it to yourself.

Alternatively, I'll check if my fax connection is still working, as I haven't used in a very long time. I'll let you know b/c. May take a little time, as I am bedridden right now, just give me a few days.

Warm regards, Wim

I am practicing a bit to improve some of my bad habits, and I suspect others are as well, so James, I hope you won't take the quiet here as a sign of lack of interest.

Sent to me by yiterp -- scanned and posted as his submission per his request.

JP

thank you James---pen used 1947 Parker 51,fine to medium nib--ink used Private Reserve Tanzanite--paper used by Cambridge

Is this posting just a sample of your handwriting, Kurt, or is this your submission in the contest?

If it is meant as a submission, could you please re-scan it as the letterforms are displaying too small for me to evaluate their quality and construction in the present scan. Be sure to detail (make/manufacturer) the fountain pen, ink and paper you used as part of your submission as I illustrated in my exemplar.

You will have to re-do your submission, sorry -- the rules specify it must be rendered in black ink. Also, be sure to detail (make/manufacturer) the fountain pen, ink and paper you used as part of your submission as I illustrated in my exemplar.

Here is my normal italic, although I don't use it as often as cursive.

Thanks for the salutation, Jim. If you love cricket please visit my web pages A Great Decade of Cricket 1938-1948

Also accessible via My Historical Web Pages (References & Resources) section of my Home page.

James

Stumpy's entry:

Attempted to include scanned entry as .jpg.

Here it is, Stumpy:

Thanks very much, James.

Ummm... would it be possible to create a submission in another (suitably dark) color, and then scan it/ color correct it as black and white? I ask because I don't own black ink, but do have some blue-blacks, and really want to get in on this, just as soon as school lets up a little.

I just want all the submission writing to appear in black so there will be no suspicion of color preference influencing my selection -- of course, investing in a bottle of black ink in order to win a never opened first edition $100 book seems to me to be eminently worthwhile.

Alright, Kurt.

* * * COMPETITION UPDATE * * *

If you submit more than one entry, I will only judge the last one submitted by 15 October 2006 that conforms to the Competition Rules.

Reiteration of the Competition Rules:

1. Renditions must be in the poster's own hand, scanned and displayed on this Board in this thread (see below).

2. I will host and post renditions for those who do not have access to a Web host -- send me an e-mail with the scan attached (max size: 640 pixels wide -- see additional posting by Wim).

3. A fountain pen (no dip pens or reservoired quills/cane pens), black ink, and paper must be used (detailed as part of the submitted rendition).

4. Plain or base-lined paper must be used -- no graph or letter body guide paper allowed.

5. Rendition must be full page (or thereabouts) -- it is easy to render a few lines of writing -- much more difficult to render a page.

6. All renditions for consideration must be submitted by 15 October 2006 -- I will announce the winners here shortly after that date.

7. Winners will have to provide me with their shipping addresses via private e-mail.

Remember, my judging of the submissions will be based on those that ..........

"best exemplify beautiful and elegant Italic handwriting and the spirit of its execution. I am not interested in display calligraphy .......... but rather handwriting that can be used in everyday pursuits such as correspondence, journaling, notes and personal cards, etc. -- and so precise layout and decoration is not a consideration. I have no concern for cross-outs, corrections or insertions -- for they are inherent in practical handwriting -- as long as they are tastefully executed. Therefor you don't have to worry about post-mortem mistakes you discover in a rendition that you are sure you could never duplicate. Use your own style of Italic"

James

Darn, all this talk of italic writing has made me buy a Black Lamy Studio with a 1.1mm stub nib on impulse yesterday (with Lamy black catridges). Just happened to be walking back to work, passed a pen shop. One credit card transaction later and within half an hour I've got a new work journal pen.

Image attached. The text above - my previous work journal pen - is a 1920s-30s Waterman Ideal 52 BHCR filled with Waterman Blue Black.

Guess I'm going to have to get my act together, get into the spirit of things, and enter the competition. Not to win, just to get the 'master' to cast his eye over my script.

Thanks for running this James. You're a star.

- Mark

EDIT: BTW this isn't the entry below!

I just did a quick colour switch for him on Photoshop...is this allowed by the rules?

Well your intention is most noble and appreciated, kissing. But, despite your best efforts, the quality of the appearance of the writing is degraded in my eyes.

To me, it would make more sense for yiterp to simply re-write the submission using black ink as specified in the rules -- that is what I would do if I really wanted to win the competition.

Yeah, I completely agree with you

The photoshop conversion didn't take long, so don't worry.

Mark, hope you're enjoying the new find!

I have my entry written out, now to find a scanner in our new offices . . .

I have mine done too....but I left it at home where the scanner is missing a usb cable...so will have to wait.

Maybe I will redo it again by then...


indecisive

Denise

james, what a wonderful idea! ann finley apprised me of the existence of this contest, as i do not traverse the gamut of available boards often, and stick to one or two due to constraints of time. i prepared my exemplar (under the influence of winking owl merlot, which i daresay did not compromise the effort!) and shall scan it in on monday. i remain true to life, and illustrate the difficulties of using practical italic writing in equations and scientific work---hope it does not fall too far off the target. anyhow, if so i can always resubmit another by the due date that is more conventional. i wanted to illustrate all the angles of using practical italic writing in daily work and my work is mostly equations! and one of these days, i mean to scan my ampersand page, with all the variations of the ampersands i have improvised on, the most intriguing 27th letter of the alphabet.

speaking of which, i mean also to scan in exemplars of writing in sanskrit font---nathan had me translate for him a bunch of phrases from english to chaste (or scholarly) hindi, to which i applied to my mother, a hindi MA, who gladly was able to comply---the final calligraphy was mine, and hope nathan found it of some use. i have still not heard an acknowledgement from him, and when i do, off go a dozen pens for a superstub or music nib retip

Welcome, Viv!

I do owe you a snail mail reply, I know -- I will have it to you shortly.

here's my exemplar!

paper used by the way is strathmore 25 percent cotton, natural white.

I fell short on understanding the formula but the aesthetics prevailed regardless. Beautiful work, Viv!

1. Renditions must be in the poster's own hand, scanned and displayed on this Board in this thread (see below).

I guess I should have made the above rule clearer. My intention is to have the entries displayed openly on this board so that viewers -- including me -- can scroll back and forth through them at will. PDF file links have to be clicked on and the content read via Adobe reader and then the viewer has to return to the board to continue browsing -- this disrupts the open viewing process.

Additionally, many people do not have Adobe installed on their computers -- I don't (my computer is full with editors, HTML/PHP/RDF/XML files, graphical browsers, screen readers, utilities and over 5000 Images) -- there are many accessibility issues with Adobe compositions.

Therefor let me clarify rule 1: entries for the competition must be openly displayed on the Board -- most probably via JPEG files.

James

OK, technical types, i need help here, my scanner allows for an image to be stored as a .pdf or a .tif, and the imaging on this site works with neither tag. can someone give me tips on conversion, or better yet, perform the conversion for me? i have both the pdf and the tif files at hand on e-mail. i'll go try the flatbed scanner now for a .jpg or a .gif extension!

Viv- send me the .tif file (I have broadband) and I will convert it to .jpg for you, if you haven't a way to do it.

Best, Ann

..

Hi Viv,

Here it is:

thanks wim, you just saved me an infinity of trouble, as the flatbed scanner was not working---and ann, thanks for your offer, but wim has taken care of it, the quality is as good as if not better than my pdf file.

It's a pleasure, Viv. Took al of 5 minutes, as I have some pdf-maker application, which allows one to pull out parts, too. So extracted the pic, then resized it for here, and uploaded it.

It was a pleasure to help out!

Warm regards, Wim