Greetings all,

Your forum has inspired me to take up calligraphy again, and improve my handwriting. I started ages ago with a 80's NoNonsense Sheaffer calligraphy kit, and stopped for other distractions (college, grad school, kids...). I just pulled out my old Sheaffer calligraphy pens and my Parker 88 Place Vendome to start really practicing writing again. Will post at some point with before and after writing samples, so you all can critique my style.

Also, I went out and bought a basic Speedball dip pen set, just to try. Any calligraphers out there have a preference for fountain calligraphy pens vs. the dip pens, or is it just personal preference?

Again, thanks to everyone and all of the wonderful ideas and help (I'm drooling over caliken's videos!), and I hope to be visiting more often!! What a wonderful resource you have here, cherish it!!

Hi Aunt Babe. Welcome to FPN. I prefer dip pens to calligraphy fountain pens. The fountain calligraphy pens I've tried are fun for italic writing but I like dip nibs that have flex to them which permit a more 19th century style of writing. I don't know if Speedball nibs are that way. There are lots of inexpensive old dip nibs available. I like several old Esterbrook nibs and a couple of the Gillott nibs.

I'd be curious on the answers too - since - just this evening - I pulled out my dip pen again for the first time in years!