Alphabet Book (Calligraphy Sample Book); In German, Decorated Manuscript On Paper -

DELIGHTFUL CALLIGRAPHY MANUSCRIPT BY A GERMAN STUDENT. In German, decorated manuscript on paper, Germany, c. 1780-1800.Dimensions 165 x 215 mm., 34 folios on paper, no watermark, two leaves bound out of order, lacking at least two leaves, and possibly three, written by a single scribe on the recto (leaving the verso blank) with first line of each folio, ff. 1-24v, in a fraktur display script, usually colored, second line in Kanzleischrift (first line ff. 25-34), and remainder of text in Kurrentschrift. BINDING: Unbound but tacketed with twine, now loose. TEXT: Two alphabetical cycles made by a student eager to show off his or her skills. The large, highly flourished capitals washed with bright colors and adorning each page of our manuscript are clearly the focus here, rather than the more amateurish script. The result is a delightful book, of interest for its place in the history of script and, equally, the history of educational practices in the eighteenth century. ILLUSTRATION: calligraphy scrolls in margins throughout, all folios with one or two large scrolled calligraphic initials in color, most on a decorative background, some with figures (horse heads, birds, suns with faces, a dog). PROVENANCE:A calligraphy sample book created to show off the flamboyant capitals and formal writing skills of a student scribe, likely in the late eighteenth century, c. 1780-1800 (we thank Dr. Marc Smith for his expertise); top of the first folio, "Von M<…?> 1<7>24," "1724" may be a date, but the symbol '7' may possibly be '/', suggesting this is a shelfmark or a price, instead of a date; private European collection.CONDITION: foxing on all folios, darkening, and staining of first and last folio, burn-through of green ink resulting in some holes in initials, chipping and discoloration around edges, slight pest damage, modern paper restorations, condition overall worn but fair. Description, images, and video available (TM 1121).