Exercitatio alphabetica nova et vtilissima, variis expressa lingvis et characteribvs, raris ornamentis, vmbris, & recissibus, picture, Architecturaeq́ue speciosa
Subtitle: nusquam ante hac Edita
By: Clementis Perreti Bruxellani
Contributors: Hooghe, Cornelis de, 1540 or 1541-1583, engraver; Tavernier, Ameet, active 1557-1570; Plantin, Christophe, approximately 1520-1589, publisher; Plantin Press
Publisher: Christophe Plantin
Published: 1569
Place of publication: Antwerp]
Language: lat
Number of pages: 34
Subjects: Copybooks; Early works to 1800; Penmanship; Calligraphy; Alphabets
Other titles: Exercitatio alphabetica nova et utilissima; Exercitatio alphabetica noua et utilissima
Notes: Engraved throughout; consists of title-page, samples II-XXXIIII, and privilege naming Christophe Plantin as exclusive publisher for six years.

Title and sample 34 signed by Cornelius de Hooghe.

The first copper-plate writing manual. It includes the additional leaf with Christopher Plantin's privilege that was added when he took over distribution of the work. It has the changes and corrections that were made at that time, including "variis" for "varys" as the 6th word of the title. It is probably the first version of the "variis" edition. See Ton Croiset van Uchelen, "The mysterious writing-master Clemens Perret and his two copy-books," in: Quaerendo, v. 17 (1987), 3-44.

First leaf is engraved title. It is followed by 33 engraved leaves of alphabets and calligraphy specimens in French, Dutch, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Latin. The leaves have been numbered I-XXXIIII, including the title leaf. All have elaborate grotesque borders, engraved by an unknown artist whose monogram (ATA = Ameet Tavernier?) appears on the title leaf. Leaf XXII is in mirror writing.

Rare Book copy: Unbound.

Bonacini, C.  Arte scrittorie, 1404

Voet, L.  Plantin Press, 1961