WRITING MATERIALS IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Paper available to this writer would have had a slightly softer, more textured surface than paper made by modern methods. Such paper absorbs the ink somewhat more readily (giving a fuller appearance to the writing-stroke) but also "drags" slightly on the tip of the pen or other writing-tool, slowing it down (making for more control in writing, but also somewhat lessening the writer's speed).
Pens available to this writer would have been quill pens; in the time and place where this writer lived, these quills were typically prepared for writing in such a way as to make the stroke they produced very different from those of most modern pens. Not only were quill pens during this writer's lifetime prepared so as to be very slightly flexible at the "business end" (most modern writing-tools are not flexible), but the "business end" of the quill during this period was typically sliced flat across instead of coming to a point as a modern pen does (to get an idea of the shape of pen Baldi used, think of the tip of a very small screwdriver or of an extremely narrow calligraphy-pen). Quality of pens varied, because they were hand-made (and very often home-made by the user) and because the quill (unlike modern pens) had to be repeatedly re-trimmed during the writing to remain useful; as far as can be judged from this copy-of-a-copy, the writer appears to have been using a good-quality pen which has been recently and competently trimmed .
Ink available to this writer would have been water-based but permanent (similar to dip-pen inks used today by professional calligraphers and artists), making for a more clearly-defined stroke than we typically see with today's ball-point or roller-ball inks. (However, ink, like quills, was hand-made - and often home-made by the user - so quality of ink at this time and place was very variable: the best is better than most mdoern inks, but the worst is far worse. As far as can be judged from this copy-of-a-copy, the writer has been using good-quality ink).
Handwriting Styles and Copybooks from 16th-17th Century
The following images are to copybooks and writing samples from the period of 1522 to 1650. The style that would have been learned by Camillo and his parents is probably that of the 1550's and so we present more from that period so that you can compare to Camillo's writing. The analysis will refer to period styles that this represents. Note that the English and Begian copybooks and samples are provided as a sampling of the regional styles from the period, but that it is unlikely that Camillo or his parents would have learned from these styles. The English samples are in what is termed secretary or "working" script.
Click on the images to view in the actual size
Pens available to this writer would have been quill pens; in the time and place where this writer lived, these quills were typically prepared for writing in such a way as to make the stroke they produced very different from those of most modern pens. Not only were quill pens during this writer's lifetime prepared so as to be very slightly flexible at the "business end" (most modern writing-tools are not flexible), but the "business end" of the quill during this period was typically sliced flat across instead of coming to a point as a modern pen does (to get an idea of the shape of pen Baldi used, think of the tip of a very small screwdriver or of an extremely narrow calligraphy-pen). Quality of pens varied, because they were hand-made (and very often home-made by the user) and because the quill (unlike modern pens) had to be repeatedly re-trimmed during the writing to remain useful; as far as can be judged from this copy-of-a-copy, the writer appears to have been using a good-quality pen which has been recently and competently trimmed .
Ink available to this writer would have been water-based but permanent (similar to dip-pen inks used today by professional calligraphers and artists), making for a more clearly-defined stroke than we typically see with today's ball-point or roller-ball inks. (However, ink, like quills, was hand-made - and often home-made by the user - so quality of ink at this time and place was very variable: the best is better than most mdoern inks, but the worst is far worse. As far as can be judged from this copy-of-a-copy, the writer has been using good-quality ink).
Handwriting Styles and Copybooks from 16th-17th Century
The following images are to copybooks and writing samples from the period of 1522 to 1650. The style that would have been learned by Camillo and his parents is probably that of the 1550's and so we present more from that period so that you can compare to Camillo's writing. The analysis will refer to period styles that this represents. Note that the English and Begian copybooks and samples are provided as a sampling of the regional styles from the period, but that it is unlikely that Camillo or his parents would have learned from these styles. The English samples are in what is termed secretary or "working" script.
Click on the images to view in the actual size