Recently on the Fountain Pen Network, about a third of all participants weren’t sure of the difference between Spencerian and Copperplate script. This is an attempt to make the differences clearer. All of this writing was done at the same time with the same pen and nib (Gillott 303) using the same ink with the strokes swelled to the same degree where appropriate. The minuscule size is 6mm high and I have made no attempt at more than the basic majuscule flourishing to highlight the differences. The two styles have the same common root but are quite different from each other.
Copperplate script, (formerly English Roundhand), is written at 55 degrees from the horizontal and the 19th century Spencerian script is written at 52 degrees. The first line is in Spencerian and the second is in Copperplate.
