Spencerian Cursive Copybook Set Plus Theory Package Edition

This is wonderful training for those that wish to improve their cursive. I learned the Palmer method I wanted to improve.I had to read the theory several times before I understood. It is an interesting delve into the past and discipline, and practice, practice, practice.

These are a reprint of the original books. They are done well. I started to try and learn this script and you surely need discipline to learn it. Going to take a long while for me to do that. Have to make it more a priority.

The media could not be loaded. These are re-published new copies of the original 1864 course on how to learn Spencerian penmanship. It is an interesting, effective, and fun as I hoped it would be! The included “theory” book walks you through how to sit at your desk, how to hold your pen, and a detailed discussion of the size and spacing of every letter, lowercase and capital, and how it all fits together. The five practice books then instruct you to practice each of the individual “principles” or shapes that form the letters, then the letters themselves, working all the way up to complete sentences as you progress through the books.NOTE!The one thing this course doesn’t really discuss is the pen and ink, presumably because in 1864 it was assumed you’d be using a pointed metal nib on a dip pen. Today’s learners have a lot of options—ball point pens, gel pens, cartridge pens, dip pens, all in different sizes, colors and nib types. Not all pens and nibs will work well for this course! I’ve seen a few bad reviews, and nearly all of them were complaints about the ink bleeding through the paper. This will NOT happen if you’re using the correct pen/nib and using them correctly. If you’re an absolute beginner trying to figure this out, I suggest you start with a dip pen (not cartridge or any other type) with a Speedball brand fine tip pointed nib such as their #512 EX FINE. This is the general type of nib required to faithfully reproduce Spencerian penmanship and is most similar to what you’d be using if it were 1864. I would also suggest Noodler’s brand ink if you can get it—Speedball ink tends to be a bit more watery but may also work fine here. Finally, make sure you follow the instructions for correctly holding and using the pen; it requires only the lightest touch to make Spencerian, and uses very little ink (and makes your nib last longer) when done correctly. I have attached a video of a lesson page I completed, and as you can see there is absolutely no bleeding of ink to the back side of the page.

So far, I am enjoying working through these books. Learning the proper form of how you should compose yourself physically was a little challenging at first but not entirely too difficult either. As of right now, my biggest complaint is that my fountain pens bleed through the pages which is disappointing because I had wanted to work through these with my fountain pens. I'm glad I did a test at the top of the page first! So instead I am just using a ballpoint pen.As a side note, the Theory book is laid out in Question and Answer format, which is very reminiscent of going through the 3 degrees of a Freemason by the way it's laid out. Gave me a slight chuckle and brought back some memories.

Great and very useful.

Since the schools don’t teach handwriting anymore. My 10th grader taught himself cursive over the summer with these books. Still can’t read his handwriting but now it’s in cursive

This set of penmanship books are great if you want to improve your handwriting skills. Today most children have lost the ability to write in cursive. These books are great to teach them as well as improve your own hand writing skills for the next note card you have to write. Everyone can benefit from these books.

You know why you are considering this set of practice booklets. The title of my review is what makes this worth your money. Practice and erase, then practice and erase! I have to do this quite often, and yet the pages hold up as if nothing has happened.This is not your usual book paper, and it's certainly not school paper. I would have torn those to shreds with my repeated erasing. So you see, you can improve your handwriting with plenty of practice. Soon we'll be sending letters that are a pleasure to receive.