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Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.
[penmanship, manuscript copy book] Janette L. Shipman; S. Lee Lyman

Janette Shipman's copy book from paid study under S. Lee Lyman, September 17, 1855.


East Calais, Vermont: Made by hand, 1855.

Oblong thin 8vo, 4.75 x 8.5 inches. 28 pages, saddle-stitched and pinned through the spine. Final page with a specimen from before and after Lyman's instruction, and several exercises endorsing his tutelage, which cost $2.00—a receipt for payment is incorporated into the exercises and marked on the cover.

A notably secular collection of examples which eschew the go-to appeals toward Christian morality. Lyman includes a few of the usual  facts, but leans on philosophical sentiments, self-referential statements, and examples of promissory notes and business correspondence uncommon for a young woman--balanced with a peppering of "Ladies' Epistolary Hand" amidst the round hand examples.

Storrs Lee Lyman (b. Vermont, ca. 1802) was a teacher based in Barnstable, Massachusetts from 1850-1860. He gave visiting classes in penmanship instruction, the likes of which could be found advertised in period newspapers along the rise of institutions like Comer’s Commercial College. Among the exercises are a copied endorsement of his services from Plymouth, Mass., which notes “Mr. S. L. Lyman has taught writing in this town at different times, and with great success. Having had children under his instruction, it is with pleasure I recommend him to all who may wish to acquire an easy business style of writing… ” Another page copies Lyman’s announcement: “Mr. Lyman, Author and Teacher of systematic penmanship has the pleasure of informing the ladies and gentlemen of this town that he proposes opening a school for the purpose of teaching Practical and Ornamental penmanship.” Jeanette L. Shipman was located in Vermont, and the format (and lack of much progression) support that this booklet was compiled during a short course—possibly the single day noted on the cover—which cost a fairly steep $2.