My Favorite Calligraphy Books

I have a bit of an obsession with both calligraphy and with books, so I’ve built a collection of calligraphy books over the years. Is there any single “best calligraphy book” in any calligraphy genre? Well, no, not really. There are many choices, and it can be a little confusing at first, especially when you aren’t sure where to start.

In this post, I’m sharing a few of my favorites in several categories. There are many others to choose from, of course! But, these are some I have personally found to be helpful and clear, and they are some of what I consider my best calligraphy books.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Decide Which Style of Calligraphy You Want to Learn

First of all, before you choose a calligraphy book, you will want to decide which type(s) of calligraphy you want to learn.

Back in the day, when I was first learning italic calligraphy, people would often think of italic calligraphy first, when they heard the word “calligraphy,” even though there have always been many kinds of calligraphy. Italic was often used on award documents, wedding invitations, etc. and is still a wonderful style to learn.

These days, several different styles of calligraphy have become popular, in addition to italic. Modern pointed pen calligraphy and brush pen calligraphy come to mind as being very popular right now, maybe even more so than italic. Copperplate is a more formal style of pointed pen calligraphy, etc.

So, before you choose any book for calligraphy, be sure to know which style you want to learn. (And, don’t hesitate to reach out to me if any of this confuses you!) Here’s a past post of mine with several calligraphy styles, as examples.

Modern Calligraphy (Pointed Pen-Script with a Pointed Nib)

Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe

This is my favorite print resource for modern pointed pen calligraphy. I have another of Molly Suber Thorpe’s Modern Calligraphy books, that came out before this one, but I prefer this one. While the first book is also a good resource and gives several variations of letter styles, they aren’t shown as full alphabets, so I didn’t find it quite as easy to use. This newer book is great for beginners, and it goes beyond that level, showing different alphabet styles. It provides info on supplies, warm-ups, drills, and even decorative flourishes. I love it.

Copperplate (Traditional Pointed Pen Calligraphy)

Copperplate Calligraphy from A to Z: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Mastering Elegant, Pointed-Pen Lettering by Sarah Richardson

This is a very step-by step, easy to follow book for learning Copperplate calligraphy. It covers everything you need to get started and is laid out very well and has lots of examples and clear instruction. It’s compact and not overwhelming, with color pages and photos. This book takes you from beginner to beyond, with chapters on flourishing and alternative letter styles. There are quotes to copy and several projects. I love this book and refer to it often.

Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Manual by Eleanor Winters.

This one is a classic. It’s a very thorough and complete guide to learning Copperplate calligraphy. The book gives an interesting historical background about Copperplate, and the instruction is very clearly laid out. There’s a section on commercial calligraphy, as well as hints for retouching and correcting.

Both of the Copperplate books above are great. I might be in the minority in that I have a slight preference for the first one over the second one. For me, the first one seems a bit less overwhelming and a little more succinct. I have both and refer to both often, though.

Italic Calligraphy (Calligraphy with a Broad Edge Nib)

Calligraphy School: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Fine Art of Lettering by Anna Ravenscroft and Gaynor Goffe

If you want a comprehensive course on italic and other basic broad-pen lettering, this is an excellent choice. It has information about supplies, ruling lines, and basic principles, and it includes color photos throughout. It’s the first book I reach for when I’m wanting some beautiful italic exemplars and when I want high quality practice in italic. There are some really nice projects and a section about creating decorative borders, too. Although this one might feel a little bit overwhelming at first, because of how much information it includes, the instruction is excellent. A really lovely book. (Note: I’ve linked to the paperback version here because it’s less expensive and seems to be a newer addition. I have the hardcover version, though, and that one is available as well.)

First Steps Series: Calligraphy by Don Marsh

This is a very basic beginner book about italic calligraphy. It has information about supplies, basic strokes, and a basic italic alphabet. It includes some simple greetings, quotes, as well as layout instructions, how to address an envelope, and has some guidelines that can be copied. It’s a much less comprehensive book than the one above and is a simple introduction to learning italic calligraphy.

Brush Calligraphy (Calligraphy with a Brush Pen)

Brush Pen Lettering: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Learning Decorative Scripts and Creating Inspired Styles by Grace Song

This is an excellent book for learning brush lettering with a brush pen. The instructions are extremely thorough, the author is an excellent treacher, and the illustrations are great. It’s very detailed, while remaining user friendly and clear. The step-by-step instructions are encouraging, with a gradual, steady learning approach. I highly recommend it.

A Fun Mix of Calligraphy Styles

Modern Mark Making: From Classical Calligraphy to Hip Hand-Lettering by Lisa Englebrecht

This is such a fun book for any lover of calligraphy and lettering to have. It includes a wide array of lettering styles, from traditional to cutting edge. While not as detailed in instruction as some of the books above, it is so much fun and so inspiring. It gives you a starting point and basic instruction for many styles, including italic, copperplate, and variations of both, as well as more edgy styles. The mixed media illustrations are beautiful, and there is even a section about DIY tools. I love how inspiring this book is. It’s one that I think anyone who loves lettering and calligraphy will enjoy.

Linking to:

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