ENGLISH HANDWRITING, 1400-1650: An Introductory Manual

By Jean F Preston, Curator of Manuscripts, Princeton University,
and Laetitia Yeandle, Curator of Manuscripts, the Folger Shakespeare Library

"In English Handwriting 1400-1650: An Introductory Manual, Jean Preston and Laetitia Yeandle successfully collaborate to provide a practical handbook for the student, scholar, or genealogist seeking to learn to read various handwritings in the English vernaculars of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. Enhanced with 31 plates of 33 manuscripts (with their transcriptions) illustrates diverse hands used by medieval scribes and later. The development of letter forms, the abbreviations used, obsolete letters, and common practices of the times are all very nicely covered. A bibliography provides recommendations for further reading.  English Handwriting 1400-1650 is an invaluable, very highly recommended and competent guide for the aspiring paleographer, student of history, or genealogist working directly or through photo copies of original records."
Midwest Book Review

This large format, well-illustrated palaeographic primer was the outcome of  the 'Summer Institute in the Archival Services' held at the Folger Shakespeare Library in 1983.  It was realised that there was a clear need for a volume which combined first class illustrations of authentic texts, together with accurate transcriptions, historical notes and alphabets which illustrate the development of letter forms.

There are 31 plates, including many interesting manuscript texts from the Folger Shakespeare Library, Princeton University and the Huntington Library, including examples of literary manuscripts, grants, wills and letters.  There are 17 original alphabets to aid character recognition. Each plate is displayed opposite a complete translation of the document enabling students to work through the facsimile images with or without the aid of notes.