The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries delight
Subtitle: wherein as well the abuses wch are offered vnto ye worthines of ye pen, by vnworthy pen men are trulie discovered, as ye dignity of ye art it selfe by ye antiquitie, excellencie, & diversitie thereof is breifly demonstrated : together with an insertion of sondrie peeces, or examples of all ye vsuall hands of England, as also an addition of certaine methodicall observations for writing, making of the pen, holding the pen, &c
By: written by Martin Billingsley ... ; the Greeke & Hebrewe with other peeces never yet extant are hereunto by the authour exactlie added
Publisher: Are to be solde by Io. Sudbury & George Humble
Published: 1618
Place of publication: London
Language: eng; lat; grc; heb
Number of pages: 28
Subjects: Penmanship; Copybooks; Early works to 1800
Other titles: Secretaries delight; Pens excellencie
Notes: Signatures (of letterpress): B-D⁴.

Title-page and dedication leaf (first [2] leaves) engraved; engraved samples numbered 3-28.

Preface dated 22 Dec. 1618.

STC identifies two editions of the letterpress portion of this title, both printed by George Eld. In this edition, on B2r, line 3 ends "ray". Neither edition is dated, but a span of dates has been assigned to this one as the Victoria and Albert Museum copy has an ownership inscription of 24 Feb. 1626.

The engraved title-page is signed by William Hole; plate 7 is initialled I:G (perhaps John Goddard).

In some copies, an engraved port. is inserted.

Heal, A. English writing-masters, p. 131.

STC (2nd ed.) 3062.5

Becker, D.P. Practice of letters, 109.