{"product_id":"the-universal-penman","title":"The Universal Penman","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Very welcome . . . magnificent.\"  Graphis \"A valuable addition for art directors.\"  Advertising Age 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 1740s  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 Bickhams 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. To list only part of its contents:  Over 125 pictorial scenes  clear copperplates of drinking scenes  family scenes  commerce  rustic festivities  duels  more.  Over 200 script pictures  male and female heads  busts  cherubs  griffins  birds  fish  etc.  19 complete alphabets: round hand  round text  Old English  florid  foliated  and others.  275 lettered specimens  overlaid with fine flourishes  swirls  spirals  featherings  volutes  etc.  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. Calligraphers find Bickham the best source for English round-handwriting; commercial artists  advertising directors  and designers all find Bickham first-rate as a source for immediately usable pictures and script that suggests antiquity  quality  and reliability. Craftspeople have found it rich in unusual ideas and motifs  while libraries and art historians find it a wonderful collection of 18th-century pictures illustrating art-life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44957995696181,"sku":"ByrdShop_1607964082","price":33.85,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781607964087.jpg?v=1770359829","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-universal-penman","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}