George Bickham the Elder

George Bickham the Elder (1684-1758)

In 1712, London writing master and engraver, George Bickham, the Elder, wrote copy books and business texts as there was a strong link between writing and mathematics (arithmetic and bookkeeping) instruction in the mid 1600s to early 1700s. Bickham, the Elder, collected from 26 London writing masters in 1733 to create and engrave the penmanship samples forming the "Universal Penman", which was reported to be the most important and popular of copy texts used by writing masters to instruct their pupils. Appearing in Bickham’s, "Universal Penman", was this poem by writing master, Samuel Vaux, dated 1734, conveying that poor writing was a disgrace to the beauty of the writer: “"An artless Scrawl ye blushing Scribler shames; All shou’d be fair that Beauteous Woman frames".” And then this piece hinting that calligraphy may have a role in encouraging romance: “"Strive to excel, with Ease the Pen will move; And pretty line add Charms to infant Love".” (Monaghan, 2005, p. 281). George Bickham also published The British Monarchy which is a collection of 188 plates of historical notes with 43 plates of views of English and Welsh counties. They are called views rather than maps although they are presented as map-like perspectives with major towns marked.

See George Bickham the Younger who followed in the family tradition of engraving.

Monaghan, J. E. (2005). Learning to read and write in colonial America. Boston, MA: University of Massachusetts Press.