Beschrijving

A Book of Sample Scripts, originally compiled by Edward Johnston and published in facsimile by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Stationery Office Books, 1966), presents a refined collection of sample handwriting forms and script styles that reflect Johnston’s calligraphic expertise. Although compact—running just 32 to 44 pages depending on the edition—this work faithfully preserves Johnston’s penmanship exercises and exemplars as a teaching tool and homage to the heritage of formal script.

Presented as facsimile reproductions, these sample scripts showcase Johnston’s influence on modern calligraphy. His signature “foundational hand” style—a broad-pen, clean approach rooted in Roman and half-uncial letterforms—revolutionized penmanship and typographic standards in the 20th century. This booklet serves as both a historical artifact and a practical reference, allowing calligraphy students and enthusiasts to study Johnston’s hand directly through accurate visual reproduction of his work.

Because of its brevity and visual focus, A Book of Sample Scripts functions more as an instructional and archival piece than a narrative or academic analysis. It’s primarily a visual reference for practitioners seeking to understand or emulate Johnston’s influential lettering technique, rather than a comprehensive theoretical text.