Copperplate lettering

When did Copperplate originate?
European penmen and engravers perfected Copperplate lettering, also known as Round Hand, during the 17th and 18th Centuries. It differs from other types of calligraphic lettering in that it is produced with a flexible nib.

The alphabet written in round hand script with capitals and lower case letters

Copperplate letters, also known as Round Hand script

How were Copperplate letters formed?
To form Copperplate letters, pressure is applied on the downward stroke of a letter to spread the point of the pen. On the upward stroke the pressure is released to create a hairline effect. The letters are slanted at 45 to 55 degrees to the base line.

Extract from book with letters n and m written in running writing between lines. The words no, and and on are written between lines.

Lesson 3 from the Manual of Handwriting. The advice to the teacher is for the children to copy words from the blackboard made up of the letters in the first three lessons before moving onto new letters. Manual of Handwriting (2000-894) page 17 

What pens and quills were used to write Copperplate?
The early flexible nibs were made of flight feathers of swans and geese and were called quills. The natural curve of the feather must sit neatly in the hand – therefore right-handers used a feather from the left wing. Quills were cured and cut to shape before use and needed frequent re-trimming to maintain a fine line.

Pens with metal nibs were developed in the 18th century. A wide variety of nib sizes were available. Wooden pens with metal nibs were used by students in New South Wales public schools.

Page from copybook with the sentence 'Practise what you preach and preach what is good' printed at the top of the page in Copperplate writing. It is copied down the page.

An example of high quality and precise work, Claude Schumacher completed this page in Vere Fosters Copy Book 9, aged 15 in 1896, in 5th Class. Claude attended Tent Hill Public School in northern NSW. Vere Fosters Copy Book No. 9 (2000-286).

When was Copperplate used in NSW schools?
Round hand – Copperplate – was prescribed in the 1880 course of instruction in the Public Instruction Act of 1880. The ‘course’ prescribed the writing per grade – 1st Class pupils writing on slates then in 2nd Class “on slates from copy; in copy books round-hand, half-text, and small-hand, with capitals” (Page 32, NSW Public Instruction Act of 1880 (2000-872) 

In a report in the Education Gazette dated 1 October 1915 it was stated that handwriting in schools was ‘far from satisfactory’ noting that in most schools copybooks had been abolished and that students were writing in a variety of styles. The 1925 syllabus addressed this and prescribed Cursive writing in place of Copperplate. Modified Cursive followed in 1962 and Foundation in the 1980s.

Page from exercise book withe the title 'The Story of Augusttine' written in Coperplate and the text below written in Copperplate. In red by the teacher is 'A credit to you'.

Page from Stella Pymble’s exercise book – a history lesson. Stella attended Pyrmont Public School and was in 3rd Class when she wrote this page in 1898. Her teacher, Mr Taylor, has written the comment “A credit to you”. Stella Pymble 3rd Class exercise book (2000-287).