No glossy pages, no eye popping illustrations…While there are many calligraphy books available today that are more appealing to the eye, few are so historically important and rich in information than Writing & Illuminating & Lettering. The author, Edward Johnston, is known as the “father of modern calligraphy” and is responsible for it’s renaissance in the 20th century. He was involved in the Arts and Crafts movement and published this book in 1906.

Without any available resources in a world where pointed pen prevailed, he took it upon himself to rediscover the lost methods of broad edged pens for lettering. But it is not only broad edged pens that he covers, but so many aspect of calligraphy…it’s history and evolution, plus extensive instruction on tools, design, illumination, guilding , versals, stone inscription and so much more.

This unassuming book is a veritable wealth of information and a “bible” for calligraphic arts. I highly recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in calligraphy and it’s modern evolution. ( )

This was the book that revived Calligraphy. Johnston was the father of modern Calligraphy, and it is from him that today's interest in the subject derives. The book is written in the typical Johnston style, and being originally written in 1906 needs just a little translation, and some tempering with modern techniques. Nevertheless, the book is certainly complete in every detail of all aspects of Calligraphy, and is a book that all Calligraphers should have in their libraries, having first read it, as a piece of history and basic calligraphy knowledge - not just 'dipped' into it. ( )

The book that helped in the revival of interest in lettering in Britain

An older book, but the best one I have ever found on illuminating and calligraphy. First took it out of a public library in Hamilton (ON, Canada) 30 years ago - found it in a used bookstore in Washington state last year (2005) ( )