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Exhibition of Historical Handwriting Manuals at The Houghton Library
Three centuries of rare printed manuals for teaching handwriting and
lettering will be shown at the Houghton Library, Harvard University, from
April 10-May 30, 1997. Fifty volumes dating from 1514 to 1800 have been
selected for the exhibition from the collection given or bequeathed to
Harvard by Philip Hofer, the renowned collector and scholar of the arts of
the book. The Hofer Collection of more than 300 writing manuals places
Harvard among the foremost collections in the world.
A 152-page illustrated catalogue authored by David P. Becker accompanies the
exhibition. It contains full bibliographic descriptions of the writing
manuals printed before 1800. The catalogue is available for $25 plus
postage and handling from the Department of Printing and Graphic Arts,
Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The exhibition
runs through May 30; the Houghton Library hours are 9-5 Monday-Friday and
9-1 Saturday. The Houghton Library is located in Harvard Yard near the
corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Quincy Street.
For further information, please contact us at 617-495-2444.
An illustrated lecture by guest curator David P. Becker "Writing Matters:
Lettering and its Histories" will take place on Wednesday, May 14, 1997 at
4:30 in the Houghton exhibition room.
Julie Mellby (617)-495-2444
Assistant Curator fax: (617)-495-1376
Dept. of Printing & Graphic Arts [log in to unmask]
The Houghton Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
