Lettervoorbeelden Possibly 1786

This penmanship guide, "Lettervoorbeelden" (possibly 1786), by Henry Ashby (1744-1818), displays a complete alphabet in a highly stylized, elegant script. The title page, written in large, ornate script, boasts "Large Text Words" and states that the guide is "written for the improvement of youth." The artwork's purpose was pedagogical, intended to instruct aspiring penmen in the art of elegant calligraphy. The publication of this guide demonstrates the importance of penmanship in the 18th century, a time when communication was largely handwritten.