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Modern calligraphy takes the structure and technique of traditional copperplate handwriting, with its regular curves and flourishes, and allows the artist to create more flexible and creative styles and letterforms. This introduction to the art explains the tools and techniques required and takes the novice through a series of exercises and practical projects from table decorations, menu cards and wedding stationery to decorative writing on paper, metal, glass, wood and other surfaces.

In a series of lessons organized around historical alphabets, this stroke-by-stroke beginner’s course teaches simple scripts such as Roman Capitals before progressing to the elegantly decorated Copperplate and Spencerian hands. It also features warm-up exercises, advice on spacing and colour and instructions for several calligraphic craft projects, including a bookmark and an embossed certificate. Slightly off-mint.

Comprising four A–Z sections, this comprehensive, well-designed guide covers the classification of typefaces from Albertus to Zapfino; the anatomy of letterforms; signs and symbols from @ to ¥; and the ‘typographer’s toolkit’ for organizing type on the page.

Hand-drawn lettering is very much in vogue in modern graphic design. This practical guide shows how to produce colourful and contemporary effects with creative letterforms. There are clear explanations of the basic techniques of letter construction, spacing and relative proportion but the book takes a looser, more intuitive approach than traditional calligraphy, with projects and exercises that use everyday writing tools and materials rather than specialist precision equipment.