Timeline of handwriting and penmanship books

1555

• Vespasiano Amphiareo, da Ferrara, frate, Opera di frate Vespasiano Amphiareo da Ferrara, title page
  

• Vespasiano Amphiareo, da Ferrara, frate, Opera di frate Vespasiano Amphiareo da Ferrara, Maiuscole cancellaresche del frate
  

1683-1707 ?

• Thomas Watson, Copy book enriched with great variety of the most usefull & modish hands adorned, title page
  

• Thomas Watson, Copy book enriched with great variety of the most usefull & modish hands adorned, letter e
  

• Thomas Watson, Copy book enriched with great variety of the most usefull & modish hands adorned, letter k
  

• Thomas Watson, Copy book enriched with great variety of the most usefull & modish hands adorned, letter p
  

1705

• George Shelley_The penmans magazine or a new copy-book of the english french and italian hands after the best mode, title page
  

• George Shelley_The penmans magazine or a new copy-book of the english french and italian hands after the best mode, page 18
  

• George Shelley_The penmans magazine or a new copy-book of the english french and italian hands after the best mode, page 19
  

• George Shelley_The penmans magazine or a new copy-book of the english french and italian hands after the best mode, page 20
  

1752

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, title page
  

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, round text, page 4
  

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, page 5
  

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, round hand, page 6
  

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, running secretary, page 11
  

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, old print, page 13
  

• George Bickham, The petit copy-book, italick print, page 14
  

ca. 1770

• Louis Rossignol, L'art d'ecrire. Nouvellement mis au jour sur les differens caracteres les plus usitez d'apres Rossignol, page 3
  

• Louis Rossignol, L'art d'ecrire. Nouvellement mis au jour sur les differens caracteres les plus usitez d'apres Rossignol, page 4
  

• Louis Rossignol, L'art d'ecrire. Nouvellement mis au jour sur les differens caracteres les plus usitez d'apres Rossignol, page 5
  

1777

• Thomas Tomkins, The beauties of writing, page 6
  

• Thomas Tomkins, The beauties of writing, page 37
  

ca. 1789-90

• Louis-Antoine Saintomer l'aîné_L'écriture démontrée par Saintomer l'ainé, title page
  

• Louis-Antoine Saintomer l'aîné_L'écriture démontrée par Saintomer l'ainé, page 3
  

• Louis-Antoine Saintomer l'aîné_L'écriture démontrée par Saintomer l'ainé, page 4
  

ca. 1808-30?

• de Gaeto Giarre_Nuevo metodo per bene scrivere; al chiarissimo sig. Raffaello Morghen, primo maestro d'Intaglio della J. accad. delle belle arti di Firenze; Gaetano Giarré, scrittor Fiorentino_Edizione Secondae, title page
  

• de Gaeto Giarre_Nuevo metodo per bene scrivere; al chiarissimo sig. Raffaello Morghen, primo maestro d'Intaglio della J. accad. delle belle arti di Firenze; Gaetano Giarré, scrittor Fiorentino_Edizione Secondae, page 2
  

• de Gaeto Giarre_Nuevo metodo per bene scrivere; al chiarissimo sig. Raffaello Morghen, primo maestro d'Intaglio della J. accad. delle belle arti di Firenze; Gaetano Giarré, scrittor Fiorentino_Edizione Secondae, page 4
  

• de Gaeto Giarre_Nuevo metodo per bene scrivere; al chiarissimo sig. Raffaello Morghen, primo maestro d'Intaglio della J. accad. delle belle arti di Firenze; Gaetano Giarré, scrittor Fiorentino_Edizione Secondae, page 7
  

• de Gaeto Giarre_Nuevo metodo per bene scrivere; al chiarissimo sig. Raffaello Morghen, primo maestro d'Intaglio della J. accad. delle belle arti di Firenze; Gaetano Giarré, scrittor Fiorentino_Edizione Secondae, page 12
  

• de Gaeto Giarre_Nuevo metodo per bene scrivere; al chiarissimo sig. Raffaello Morghen, primo maestro d'Intaglio della J. accad. delle belle arti di Firenze; Gaetano Giarré, scrittor Fiorentino_Edizione Secondae, page 15
  

1815

• Round text. Round and running hand. : Sentimental copies, written for the use of schools & acads. by George Titcomb, Engraved by W. Hooker, component parts of letters
  
• Round text. Round and running hand. : Sentimental copies, written for the use of schools & acads. by George Titcomb, Engraved by W. Hooker, Love your studies
  
• Round text. Round and running hand. : Sentimental copies, written for the use of schools & acads. by George Titcomb, Engraved by W. Hooker, Encourage no vice
  

1848

• Spencer & Rice's System of Ladies' Epistolary and Ornamental Penmanship, 1848 edition, front cover
  

• Spencer & Rice's System of Ladies' Epistolary and Ornamental Penmanship, 1848 edition, introductory card, page 1
  

• Spencer & Rice's System of Ladies' Epistolary and Ornamental Penmanship, 1848 edition, Ladies' epistolary

1852

• Rand's introduction to penmanship, No. 6 ,1852 edition, Benjamin H Rand, Exercises, Do unto others, etc.
  
• Rand's introduction to penmanship, No. 6 ,1852 edition, Benjamin H Rand, Exercises, Rockingham, etc.
  

ca. 1854

• American common school writing book, ca. 1854 edition, O. S. Cooke & Co., front cover
  

• American common school writing book, ca. 1854 edition, O. S. Cooke & Co., page 1
  

• American common school writing book, ca. 1854 edition, O. S. Cooke & Co., back cover
  

1869

• Theory and Art of Penmanship: a manual for teachers... Payson, Dunton, Scribner's, 5th ed., 1869, Classification and Variety of Capitals
  
• Theory and Art of Penmanship: a manual for teachers... Payson, Dunton, Scribner's, 5th ed., 1869, Analysis of the letters
  
• Theory and Art of Penmanship: a manual for teachers... Payson, Dunton, Scribner's, 5th ed., 1869, Elements and principles of letters
  

1875

• Common school speller..., by Calvin Patterson, New York, Sheldon & co., 1875, page 5, Part I, exercises for printing and writing
  

• Common school speller..., by Calvin Patterson, New York, Sheldon & co., 1875, page 6, exercises for printing
  

• Common school speller..., by Calvin Patterson, New York, Sheldon & co., 1875, page 7, exercises for writing
  

1879

• Analytical system of penmanship, 1879 edition, George Sherwood & Co., front cover
  

• Analytical system of penmanship, 1879 edition, George Sherwood & Co., page 20
  

• Analytical system of penmanship, 1879 edition, George Sherwood & Co., back cover
  

1880

• The graphic system of practical penmanship by Edwin Shepard, No 7, James McLees (engraver), 1880, A. Lovell & Co., principles_letters_signs_punctuation marks_figures
  

• The graphic system of practical penmanship by Edwin Shepard, No 7, James McLees (engraver), 1880, A. Lovell & Co., page 6
  

• The graphic system of practical penmanship by Edwin Shepard, No 7, James McLees (engraver), 1880, A. Lovell & Co., page 9
  

• The graphic system of practical penmanship by Edwin Shepard, No 7, James McLees (engraver), 1880, A. Lovell & Co., page 11
  

• The graphic system of practical penmanship by Edwin Shepard, No 7, James McLees (engraver), 1880, A. Lovell & Co., page 18
  

1887

• Melvil Dewey (attributed to) and Thomas Edison (NOT involved in its creation), Library handwriting, also know as library hand, 1887

1887 - 189x

• Jackson's New Style Vertical Writing Copy Books, Advertising_Feb 1 1887_Google image
  

1893

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Elementary 1, front cover
  

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Elementary 1, page 1
  

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Elementary 2, front cover
  

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Elementary 2, page 1
  

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Elementary 2, back cover
  

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Elementary 5, front cover, back side
  

• Harison's Vertical penmanship, Number 7, penmanship book pages, assorted
  

1894

• Spencerian system of penmanship, 1888 revised edition, 1894 back cover, American Book Company, back cover
  

Noted as "Spencerian style of writing in standard, vertical, and backhand positions"

1894

• The Zanerian theory of penmanship, 1894 second edition, Blackboard illustrations accompanying tendencies and truths in teaching penmanship, page 125
  

• The Zanerian theory of penmanship, 1894 second edition, Zanerian standard forms, page 139
  

• The Zanerian theory of penmanship, 1894 second edition, chapter 2, motion_pages 138 -147
  

1896

• Natural system of vertical writing, 1896 edition, A F Newlands and R K Row, D C Heath & Co., alphabet, standard forms
  

1896

• Smith's educational system of intermedial penmanship, 1896 edition, H P Smith Co., partial alphabet
  
• Smith's educational system of intermedial penmanship_1896_sample page from book 7
  

1898

• Johnson's Primer, by H.H. Richardson, Richmond, Va. : B.F. Johnson Pub. Co., 1898, Google books image, the alphabet, page 8
  

• Johnson's Primer, by H.H. Richardson, Richmond, Va. : B.F. Johnson Pub. Co., 1898, Google books image, lesson 1, page 9
  

• Johnson's Primer, by H.H. Richardson, Richmond, Va. : B.F. Johnson Pub. Co., 1898, Google books image, lesson 16, page 26
  

• Vertical round hand writing books, No. 1, by Horace W. Shaylor, Ginn & Company, 1898, front cover
  

• Vertical round hand writing books, No. 1, by Horace W. Shaylor, Ginn & Company, 1898, inside front cover
  

• Vertical round hand writing books, No. 1, by Horace W. Shaylor, Ginn & Company, 1898, page 6
  

• Vertical round hand writing books, No. 1, by Horace W. Shaylor, Ginn & Company, 1898, page 9
  

1901

• Medial Writing Books, Book 4, 1901, Horace W Shaylor and George W Shattuck, Ginn & Company, inside front cover
  

• Medial Writing Books, Book 4, 1901, Horace W Shaylor and George W Shattuck, Ginn & Company, page 1
  

• Medial Writing Books, Book 4, 1901, Horace W Shaylor and George W Shattuck, Ginn & Company, inside back cover
  

1904

• Dickerson H Farley, sample from Penman's Art Journal, Farley's rapid text, letterforms
  
• Dickerson H Farley, sample from Penman's Art Journal, medial script
  

1904

• The language system of penmanship, 1904 revised edition, Globe School Book Co., front cover
  

• The language system of penmanship, 1904 revised edition, Globe School Book Co., page 5
  

• The language system of penmanship, 1904 revised edition, Globe School Book Co., back cover
  

1904

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete compendium, 1904 edition, Zaner & Bloser, front cover
  

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete compendium, 1904 edition, Zaner & Bloser, round hand, angular long-loop slanting style, compact penmanship, running hand, pages 84-85
  
• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete compendium, 1904 edition, Zaner & Bloser, single-stroke lettering and backhand writing, pages 94-95
  
• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete compendium, 1904 edition, Zaner & Bloser, back cover
  

1905

• Practical writing, by R C Spencer, P R Spencer, Jr. H A Spencer, L P Spencer, 1905, American Book Company, alphabet, plain standard forms, other approved forms, back cover

1909

• E. C. Mills, "Modern American Writing," 1909, from Questioned Documents, Albert Sherman Osborn, 1910 edition, letterforms, page 178

1909-1911

D. L. Musselman, Musselman's complete bookkeeping, 1909-1911, model business forms

1910

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete manual, 1910 edition, Zaner & Bloser, front cover
  

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete manual, 1910 edition, Zaner & Bloser, intelligent gradation, page 96
  

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete manual, 1910 edition, Zaner & Bloser, forms for study and imitation, page 97
  

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete manual, 1910 edition, Zaner & Bloser, history of the evolution of writing, page 100
  

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete manual, 1910 edition, Zaner & Bloser, history of the evolution of writing, page 101
  

• The Zaner method of arm movement writing complete manual, 1910 edition, Zaner & Bloser, the physiology of the arm, page 104
  

1911

• The Mills system of business writing, by Edward C. Mills, copyright 1911, back cover
  

1912

• Handwriting, by Edward L. Thorndike. Thorndike, Edward L., copyright 1910, 1912, Scale C, a scale for handwriting of children in grades 5 to 8
  

1915

• Muscular movement writing, advanced book, Clyde C Lister, 1915, The Macmillan Company, page 12, standard letters
  
• Muscular movement writing, advanced book, Clyde C Lister, 1915, The Macmillan Company, page 80, beautiful penmanship
  
• Muscular movement writing, advanced book, Clyde C Lister, 1915, The Macmillan Company, page 90, all students
  

1916

• Library handwriting a guide for the use of students in the New York State Library School, 1916, The University of the State of New York, complete book
  

• Library handwriting a guide for the use of students in the New York State Library School, 1916, The University of the State of New York, sample of library hand: joined hand and disjoined hand
  

1919

• Palmer penmanship pointers, January 1919, A N Palmer Company, front cover
  

• Palmer penmanship pointers, January 1919, A N Palmer Company, page 5
  

• Palmer penmanship pointers, January 1919, A N Palmer Company, page 8
  

• Palmer penmanship pointers, January 1919, A N Palmer Company, page 11
  

• Palmer penmanship pointers, January 1919, A N Palmer Company, page 23
  

1920

• Minnie B Graves, Muscular writing, W.S. Benson & Co, Course of Study 3d and 2d, back covers
  
• Minnie B Graves, Muscular writing, W.S. Benson & Co, Course of Study 3d, Florence Howe, student writing sample, page 11
  

1921

• The Champion method of practical business writing_1921 edition_Mary L Champion, page 78, alphabet and numerals
  

1924

• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, Patty Smith Hill, intro page vii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, Patty Smith Hill, intro page viii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, Patty Smith Hill, intro page ix
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, Patty Smith Hill, intro page x
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xi
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xiii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xiv
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xv
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xvi
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xvii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xviii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xix
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xx
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xxi
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xxii
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, C W Kimmins, intro page xxiii
  
• Marjorie Wise,On the technique of manuscript writing,analysis of the capitals, page 2
  
• Marjorie Wise,On the technique of manuscript writing, essential forms alphabet, page 4
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, essential forms alphabet, student sample, page 5
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, the small letters, page 6
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, essential forms alphabet, from an old writing book, page 8
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, alternate forms and figures, page 10
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, the beginning of ink work, page 12
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, the principles of making thin and thick strokes, page 14
  
• Marjorie Wise, On the technique of manuscript writing, capitals showing pen strokes, page 16
  

1929/1933 Comparison

• F. O. Putnam and E. C. Mills, Practical Penmanship 1929 and Practical Handwriting 1933, script styles combined image
  

1935

• Experiences in Handwriting-Spelling, Grade 2A, Board of Education, City of Detroit, 1935, front cover
  
• Experiences in Handwriting-Spelling, Grade 2A, Board of Education, City of Detroit, 1935, alphabet and writing grading scale
  

1938

• Manuscript writing made easy, book two 1938, J A Savage, slanted print writing
  
• Manuscript writing made easy, book two 1938, J A Savage, print writing
  

1942

• Charles J Ozmet, The Gruved Writing System, Perfect Penmanship Co., copyright 1942, Business capitals
  
• Charles J Ozmet, The Gruved Writing System, Perfect Penmanship Co., copyright 1942, Decorative capitals
  

1947

• On to good writing, guide 7, by Mamie Eppler, et. al., Economy Company, 1947 edition, inside back cover, alphabet
  

1948

• Cursive teachers' manual, Handwriting aid for elementary teachers, general & specific guide gr. 4-8, by Frank Freeman, Zaner-Bloser Co., 1948 edition, Zaner-Bloser, page 46, letterforms
  

1948

Frank Freeman, Looking Ahead Recorder 8, 1948 edition, Zaner-Bloser

• Bill Holtzmuller, Writing exercises, cover
  

• Bill Holtzmuller, Writing exercises, page 7
  

• Bill Holtzmuller, Writing exercises, page 21
  

• Bill Holtzmuller, Writing exercises, page 22
  

1957

• Our handwriting, toward better writing, eighth book, 1957 edition, Billington and Staffelbach, back cover, alphabet
  

1977

• Zaner-Bloser, Handwriting workbook, cursive, 1977, Walter B Barbe, inside front cover, letter creation and alphabet