Calligraphy and lettering books
Calligraphy and lettering books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
Writing & Illuminating, & Lettering
Edward JohnstonA foundational English-language manual on pen lettering and the basic hand; it shaped later teaching in Britain and beyond.
Italic Letters
Inga DubayA step-by-step introduction to the italic hand, typical of the hobbyist instruction books that became common in the 1980s.
Learn Calligraphy
Margaret ShepherdA beginner's course covering tools, basic strokes and alphabets, and a common starting point for self-taught learners.
Of the Just Shaping of Letters
Albrecht DürerThe English edition of Dürer's 1525 study of how to construct Roman capitals with compass and ruler, a key source for letter proportions.
The Universal Penman
George BickhamAn engraved copperplate model book that documents 18th-century English writing styles and ornamental flourishes.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More calligraphy and lettering books
- Medieval Calligraphy
Medieval CalligraphyMarc Drogin - The Art of Illuminating as Practised in Europe from the Earl
The Art of Illuminating as Practised in Europe from the Earliest Times.W. R. Tymms - Calligraphy
CalligraphyPatricia Lovett - The Encyclopedia of Calligraphy Techniques
The Encyclopedia of Calligraphy TechniquesDiana Hardy Wilson - Art of Calligraphy
Art of CalligraphyDavid Harris - Layout and Design for Calligraphers
Layout and Design for CalligraphersAlan Furber - Borders for Calligraphy
Borders for CalligraphyMargaret Shepherd - Calligraphy in Ten Easy Lessons
Calligraphy in Ten Easy LessonsEleanor Winters - Hand Lettering Made Easy
Hand Lettering Made EasyDebra Beagle - Leaves of grass
Leaves of grassWalt Whitman1855 - Venus and Adonis
Venus and AdonisWilliam Shakespeare1593 - Lettering & Calligraphy Workbook
Lettering & Calligraphy WorkbookDiagram Group.2006