| Abstract: Letters and writings of Alfred John Fairbank, relating to calligraphy, 1952-79, and pages of handwriting manuals, 1566 |
Anna Hornby (1914-1996) was Honorary Secretary of the Society for Italic Handwriting, from its foundation in 1952, until 1962. For further information see her obituary in The Scribe no. 66 (Spring 1996). Through her interest in calligraphy and her association with the Society, she became acquainted with Alfred John Fairbank. He was a founding member of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators in 1921, and was also involved in the foundation of the Society for Italic Handwriting in 1952. For further information see Dictionary of National Biography.
The collection contains letters from Alfred John Fairbank to Anna Hornby, 1952-79; articles written by Fairbank on calligraphy, 1953-74; samples of his handwriting; translations by Anna Hornby of two Italian handwriting manuals, 1953, and pages from the original works, 1566.
Incomplete copy of Giovanni Battista Palatino, Compendio del gran volume de l'arte del bene et leggiadramente scrivere tuttele sorti di lettere et caratteri, con le lor regole misure et essempi (Rome, 1566) is Vet. F1 d. 73. A copy of John Howard Benson, The First Writing Book [:] an English translation and facsimile text of Arrighi's Operina, the first manual of the Chancery hand, with introduction and notes by John Howard Benson (New Haven, 1954) is Rec. e. 249.
Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. c. 5890, fols. 1-2].
| Letters mainly from Alfred John Fairbank, copies of articles he wrote,
pages from Italian writing manuals and notes by Anna Hornby, 1566,
1952-79 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 5890 Extent: 215 leaves Scope and Content: Includes
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| Translation of Ludovico degli Arrighi, La Operina (1522) and part
of his Il Modo de Temporare (1523) by Anna Hornby, written by her
in italic, 1953 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3402 Extent: x + 48 pages Binding: Spiral bound notebook with stiffened covers |