The universal penman, or, The art of writing made useful to the gentleman and scholar, as well as the man of business : exemplified in all the useful, and ornamental branches of modern penmanship : with some necessary observations on the excellency of the pen, and a large number of select sentences in prose and verse, various forms of business, relating to merchandize and trade, letters on several occasionl accurate specimens of the oriental languages, and alphabets in all the hands now practis'd
George Bickham's 1741 London copybook, The Universal Penman, was printed for the author to teach gentlemen, scholars and businessmen the many hands of eighteenth-century penmanship. Its plates show flourished headings, decorative lettering and ornamental vignettes that suggest ready-made models for calligraphic borders, initials and display type.
