Hand Engraved Samples & Press Proofs in VOGUE’s Blog

“Need to Know” section of Vogue magazine’s online zine by Stephanie LaCava and edited by Virginia Tupker.

This features re-purposed, vintage, hand engraved dies. They are goofy and some with nifty old type. http://petitesuite.wordpress.com./

Calligraphic Engraving

This past week I spent researching calligraphic engraving at the Harry Ransom Center (HRC) at University of Texas at Austin. HRC archives hold many copybook (or copy book) specimens, three “The Universal Penman” by George Bickham, great master of this highly specialized craft in 18th-century England, one beautiful copy is in the fabulous bound Beaufoy, H.B.H., collection of English, German and Dutch writing manuals.

I examined over 1,460 individual engraved plates either bound or tipped-in to these books or the Beaufoy collection.  There are exquisite examples of engraved calligraphy but of greater interest to me was being able to look at the structure of engraved letter forms.  I was able to bring with me, and use, the 3X photographic loop, with excellent optics, so was able to see some great detail.

I will be writing my observations here in my blog.  Meanwhile, anyone interested in the genre can go to this bibliography about origins of letter forms including writing and copy books:

http://ihl.enssib.fr/siteihl.php?page=45&aflng=fr.

Also, a reasonable copy, offset not engraved, of Bickham’s “Universal Penman” can be bought as a Dover edition for fairly cheap.

My favorite specimen was a complete book by Snell, about 4-5 characters per page, 13 plates in all illustrating the entire alphabet.  At the end of which (and I could not tell if it is part of the Snell book or a random, tipped-in item) was a grid comparing each character in the alphabet for Roman, Italick [sic], two kinds of script, “secretary”, “church”, engrossing and several other forms of types.

I will post pictures in the coming weeks, it takes four to six (weeks) for the HRC to process orders for scanning copies.

Love Letters: American Commercial Engraving, Monograms and Social Stationery

Please join me at University of Texas at Austin for the most recent rendition of this evolving presentation about American commercial engraving.

Tuesday September 22

6:00pm–7:30pm

Art Building, Room ART 1.120

This lecture will include images from recent research and sources of commercial engraving and specifications for engraving types never before shown in public or discussed.

http://aigaaustin.org/events/2009/09/detail/414/

So Noted: In Search of Monograms

Nancy Sharon Collins, A/K/A the engraving lady, is seeking submissions of engraved social stationery, read about it in the Mohawk paper website.

read more about it.

History of Romantic Letters at TypeCon 2009

The History of Romantic Letters at TypeCon 2009

THURSDAY, JULY 16
2:00 pm-5:30 pm

Presented by Nancy Sharon Collins (Collins LLC/Loyola University/AIGA New Orleans)

Location: Portfolio Center, Atlanta
Cost: $50 + $10 materials fee
Ever wonder about engraving? What is it? Where does it come from? Why does it look that way? What’s a monogram? How does engraving factor into the history and function of type?

The only way to truly appreciate engraving is to try it yourself—come experience the “cut” by which engraved letterforms are made—everyone in this workshop will be encouraged to try their hand with a “graver” (or “burin”), the real tools of this elegant, virtually forgotten trade.

Specimens of vintage monograms, lettering styles and engraving will be displayed. Using simple tools such as graphite pencil and various sorts of erasers, attendees will trace, combine, retrace existing forms and learn to make new symbols, letters and forms with these historic pieces of inspiration.

http://www.typecon.com/calendar.php?category=Workshops

Get That Job (hand-write a note to prospective boss)

The best way to snag that new job is to HAND WRITE a personal note (brief) and send it through the mail (yes, snail mail—USPS).  This is in addition to following-up immediately with a brief email once you have forwarded your resume/CV and or had that all-crucial interview.

Another trick is to do your research, target for whom you want to work, write a letter and send IT through the mail.

This stuff really works, over 30 years I have maintained a consistent, successfull track record for getting in the front door of almost anywhere by finding the right person’s name (make sure to get the correct spelling) and title, then drafting a letter, signing it and send it via the post office.  Wait  ten days or so then pick up the phone.  I get into 1/5th of the places to which I send real mail.  This is a hell of a lot better results than any e-generated initiatives.

Also…get the 20% introductory special on REAL engraved monogram and notes.  (These are about 2/3 the price of any other real engraved stationery!)

http://www.petitesuite.wordpress.com

Not sure about how to write that letter or note?  There’s loads of on-line help.  When in doubt, check-out an etiquette expert, too.

New Exhibit of Engraved Letters, Glyphs, Monograms and Symbols

History in Small Places, mini-exhibit of pigment prints by Nancy Sharon Collins from February to March 28 at the Hill Memorial Library, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Hill Memorial Library

LSU Library

History in Small Places

History in Small Places, Feb 28-March 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solo exhibition of archival pigment prints by Nancy Sharon Collins at the Hill Memorial Library, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

These images and artifacts were inspired by the Dameron-Pierson collection of commercially engraved copper plates and hand engraved monogram, crest and seal dies salvaged and preserved by Mrs. Collins after the horrific floods of 2005 in New Orleans.

The plates were donated to the Southeastern Louisiana Archival Collections and the dies to the Hill Memorial Library.

For more information

Special Collections Library Receieves Monogram Dies

Louisiana State University Special Collections in the Hill Memorial Library, Baton Rouge, took possession of the Dameron-Pierson monogram die collection last month.  Read the story here:

library-receives-collection-of-steel-dies

Read more articles on my Typophile blog site as well:

14410

Etiquette at TypeCon. Why?

I was delighted that my lecture, “Etiquette and Typography” was so well received at TypeCon 2008 in Buffalo this past weekend.

To my great satisfaction, a diverse number of individuals—old, young, male and female—so many people came up or wrote to thank me for my lecture that I began to think about why.  

It was with great interest that I watched Ken Barber’s presentation from House Industries;  much of the iconography for the product they make comes from the time period that I discussed.  

Mid-century America was a special time, filled with optimism and opportunities for economic and social advancement.  The clothes, houses, interiors, manners and work ethics symbolize this optimistic and upwardly mobile period.  After a half century of world strife it was a relief to think of poodle skirts, bowling, prosperity and good hygiene.  As I mentioned in my talk, there is comfort in order and the pursuit of order was the pursuit of happiness for the United States in the 1950s and 60s.

My favorite photograph of my dad is pictured here.  My dad entered the coast guard during clean-up operations after WWII to utilize the G.I. bill which then paid for his college education.  His first job, and, the job he did until retiring very recently, was to open up markets all over the world for the purpose of selling used clothing (rags) and army surplus.  When I was growing up dad would travel to everywhere except South America and Russia.  He sold or stopped-over in Western Europe, the Middle East, the entire African continent, Japan and Hong Kong (China was closed then so trade was not possible and travel there for his purpose would be futile.)  There are African countries on his passport that no longer exist.

But what I love about this photo, and I have discussed this with dad since, is that there he stands in a suit and a tie on the ruins of a civilization destroyed.  Granted, the Acropolys has been in ruins for centuries but as a symbol for the way he felt when he traveled the world with his brief case of American samples must have been a form of mastery.  America had saved the world and the world was grateful.  

The cynic in me says, okay, the world was grateful for the American dollars he brought.  But he always felt welcome abroad which is a far cry from sentiments about America now.  

My point is that we felt hopeful and proud so we dressed and acted like this, too.

Why then, I wonder, is this sudden interest in manners and protocols and symbols of an American time that has been derided in movies and popular culture?  Why are we attracted to hand lettered types and fusty-dusty engraving?  Are we just yearning for simpler times when America was perceived to be great?  I wonder