A LOOK INSIDE Learn American Calligraphy : The Complete Book of Lettering, History, and Design, by Margaret Shepherd

This book contains a wealth of letter art. Calligraphers who have learned from Margaret Shepherd's 19 other books will recognize and use the detailed model alphabet pages--some 39 in all--to teach themselves the basics of [word]. Casual readers will find inspiration in the hundreds of illustrations and the back-stories from American life. 

Highlight #1. pp 93-106. 

The Fraktur chapter is sprinkled with a dozen tiny hand- drawn ornaments; elaborate illuminated capitals; and step-by-step instructions for making filled letters. The crowning glory, shown at right, is a full-page border by noted Fraktur artist Dennis Stephan; readers can remove it, carefully, from the book and create a beautiful Fraktur document as their own family heirloom. 

Margaret Shepherd's new book: Learn American Calligraphy

     I'm happy to announce the publication of my new book Learn American Calligraphy, The Complete Book of Lettering, History, and Design, from Skyhorse. Fifteen years in the making, it fills a much needed function to showcase the letters that came to America and evolved, or those who were created here. 

The book takes the casual reader on a visual trip around the United States of the past and future, while calligraphers at all levels of skill will come home with new alphabets to use. 

    For centuries, American calligraphers have accepted the legacy of the classic Roman, Gothic, and Italic calligraphy they inherited from Europe without knowing that there are more alphabet treasures to be found in a larger pool of uniquely American alphabet designs. Wild West, New Deal, Prairie, National Park—all were made in America, and they express ideas that reveal national character. These styles come from here and nowhere else. Much like American music, language, fashion, and philosophy, calligraphy has matured, moved on from its origins, and become, in the words of the man who created Spencerian handwriting, “even more American.” 

Every calligrapher will find inspiration in this book's hundreds of illustrations and dozens of model alphabets. We will be sampling from its hundreds of illustrations and dozens of model alphabets over the year. 

Learn American Calligraphy is available wherever books are sold.