The universal penman [or, The art of writing made useful to the gentleman and scholar, as well as the man of business ... Written, with the friendly assistance of several of the most eminent masters, and engrav'd, by Geo. Bickham. The whole embelish'd with beautiful decorations ... London, Printed for and sold by the author, at the Crown in James Street, Bunhill Fields, 1741.] [Dover pictorial archive series]

New York : Dover Publications, 1743, 1968, 1968. Book. Good. Soft cover. 212 p. : all ill., facsims ; 35 cm. ; ISBN: 0486206165; 9780486206165 ; LC: Z43; Dewey: D745.61 ; OCLC: 222891453 ; "...an unabridged and unaltered republication of the 212 plates comprising The universal penman, as published by George Bickham, London, circa 1740-1741".; pictorial stiff paper wrappers ; "This is the only complete edition available of one of the most famous and most useful books of commercial art ever printed. George Bickham, a noted engraver and calligrapher, first compiled this work back in the 1740's, from the best specimens of 24 of the leading calligraphers of his day. Unfortunately, Bickham published his work in 52 separate parts, over a period of eight years. In Bickham's own day it was difficult to get a complete set of the Universal Penman; today, apart from this edition, it is virtually impossible, for most surviving 18th-century copies lack certain rare plates. This Dover edition, however, contains every plate which Bickham engraved, and each is reproduced from an original so remarkably clear that these modern plates are actually better than most 18th-century originals. This book contains more than 210 full-page plates, each crammed full of beautiful and interesting material." ; Contains 9 complete alphabets: round hand, round text, Old English, florid, foliated, and others, 275 lettered specimens, overlaid with fine flourishes, swirls, spirals, featherings, volutes, Over 100 panels, frames, cartouches, and other effects, Over 950 lettered specimens, with thousands of words that can be lifted right off for reproduction. ; "Individual items in this book are permission-free, and may be used (up to ten items per use) without permission, payment, or credit line. " ; repair to spine ; else G.