Alfabetten in verschillende lettertypes 1781

This sheet of alphabets was made by Johannes Condet in the 18th century. Look closely, and you can see the variations in letterforms, from the angular, gothic scripts at the top to the flowing cursive at the bottom. Condet made this with pen and ink, a laborious process, especially given the precision required. Each letter demanded careful attention, building up the forms stroke by stroke. Consider the amount of skill and time invested in creating this reference sheet, a testament to the importance of handwriting before mechanization. The varying letterforms also reflect the social context of the time. Different scripts were used for different purposes, from formal documents to personal correspondence. This alphabet sheet isn't just a display of skill, but also a window into a world where handwriting was a vital form of communication and a marker of social status.