Jacqueline Svaren’s Written Letters was originally published in 1975 as “22 Alphabets for Calligraphers”. It has since been revised and the number of alphabets has expanded to 33. The entire book is beautifully handwritten and is unretouched, the text in a lovely italic hand and the exemplars to size. The book is compiled chronologically which makes it serve as a very handy and concise reference. Each alphabet is presented in a single spread. On the left page are interesting historical notes and hints as well as a block of text written out in that particular hand. This is helpful in providing a sense of the texture and spacing of a page written in that given alphabet. On the right hand page is an exemplar and ductus of the alphabet accompanied by helpful notes on each letter.

This book is definitely a calligraphy classic that still remains relevant today. It has stood the test of time and I continue to consider it a cornerstone of my library and highly recommend it to all.
-Kathy ( )