Handwriting specimens

Bundle of receipts illustrating Secretary and Italic hands between 1613 and 1758.

Secretary hand was a universal hand which could be written easily and read by all. It rose out of the cursive business hands, and became popular during the fifteenth century. Italic hand was another easily written cursive script. It had a distinctive lean, and could be written rapidly with the minimum number of pen lifts. Italic script came to prominence in the fifteenth century and its use continued into the seventeenth century.

Chronological

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Provenance unknown

Collection level description.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLp AIM25 Project.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.