No need for copper or plates to achieve the distinctive calligraphic script of eighteenth-century Europe ― just a pen, ink, and this comprehensive workbook will do. Master calligrapher Dick Jackson explains the basic strokes for almost all letters of the copperplate alphabet. Simple instructions and examples introduce the swirls, flourishes, strikings, and thick and thin strokes that make copperplate calligraphy a source of pleasure for the practitioner and a delight to the reader.A historical introduction traces the growth of copperplate from its roots in the French ronde of the seventeenth century, to its adaptation by English clerks into their copybooks, and the development of the style known as round hand. In addition, guide sheets and instructions for individual letters and numbers offer aspiring calligraphers a practical approach to this enduring art form.