This page compiles some absorbing resources about calligraphy or writing that I have come across, in a perspective of sharing curiosities...
History of writing, calligraphy
The World Encyclopedia of Calligraphy
by Christopher CALDERHEAD, Holly COHEN (editors), Union Sqaure & Co, 2011 (link)
A thorough look at the history and techniques of calligraphy in different languages ranging from Latin scripts to Japanese, Arabic, Armenian and more. A must for anyone looking for an overview of calligraphy and its diversity of traditions and uses in the world.
A is for Ox. A short history of the alphabet
by Lyn DAVIES, The Folio Society, 2006 (link)
A concise history of how some of the European alphabets evolved and spread over time, showing the mutual influences. The book also presents the evolution of each letter of the Latin alphabet, starting from the Egyptian hieroglyphs, where plausible, to the modern-day Latin alphabet not forgetting the numerous influences by Phoenician, Greek, Etruscan, Roman letters and more.
The Greatest Invention: A History of the World in Nine Mysterious Scripts
by Silvie FERRARA, Macmillan Publishers, 2021 (link)
A fascinating world tour to reflect on the invention of writing by looking at a series of scripts and writing systems not yet deciphered: from Crete to Cyprus, to rongorongo on Easter Island, to Chinese turtles, to Mayan glyphs and many more examples to keep you scratching your head. Sometimes, the unknown says more about the human thought and our writing systems than the obvious.
L'écriture en Méditerranéee (Writing in the Mediterranean)
by Abderrazak BANNOUR, Edisud, 2004 (link)
Small paperback tracing the history of writing in the Mediterranean region, with many examples that link the different writing styles and analyse their evolution. It includes a detailed chronology starting from 8000 BC.
Writing. Theory and History of the technology of Civilization
by Barry B. POWELL, Wiley-Blackwell, 2009 (link)
An overview of some of the most known early writing systems developed in Mesopotamia. There are interesting examples and comparisons, especially when discussing how some writing systems where deciphered. But the book is heavy with bias towards the Greek alphabet as being exemplary and universal, the writing system par excellence with no fault, and other systems like the Chinese logograms and the Mayan glyphs as being bizarre, illogical and not fully evolved! To be read with caution...
Armenian writing
The Art of Letter-Type. Tables of Armenian Decorative Types
by Fred AFRICKIAN, Sovetakan Grogh Publishers, 1984 (link)
A book presenting some 120 styles of typographic and manuscript writing by the Armenian architect Fred Africkian (1937-2018), all drawn by hand. Some of these styles have inspired latin fonts, such as the Taboo font by Canada Type. See also Luc Devroye's page for examples of Africkian's work.
Erkataguir ou comment naquit l'alphabet arménien
by Serge Mouraviev, 2010, Academia Verlag (link)
L'Odyséee de l'écriture (The Odyssey of Writing)
by David Sington, Arte France Distribution, 2020 (link)
This fascinating documentary explores how writing has shaped human societies across the West, East, and Arab-Muslim world throughout the millennia, revealing new archaeological discoveries about writing's origins and the secrets behind ancient writing materials. Featuring archive footage and expert testimonies, it examines major reforms of the last century while questioning our contemporary digital age uses of writing. Rebus, cuneiforms, hieroglyphs and their evolution to modern-day alphabets, mutual influences and the birth of print - all is in there in a most captivating account of the act of writing.
Basler Papiermühle (Basel Paper Mill), Basel, Switzerland (link)
A small museum in Basel on the history and techniques of paper-making, printing and book-binding, with many hands-on activities for visitors to try themselves. Making your own paper, putting together a printed page using typesets, using a paper-press and more activities make the learning experience all the more fun.
The Abbey library of Saint Gall, St-Gallen, Switzerland (link)
The library of the Abbey dating back to the 8th century features some 1'600 books and manuscripts in a stunning hall with bookshelves reaching the ceiling. In the Vaulted Cellar and the Exhibition Space, there are permanent and temporary exhibitions featuring ancient manuscripts, some with carved ivory covers, and interactive activities for discovering the history and techniques of writing.
University Library of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (link)
The library has a beautiful lecture hall with bookshelves up to the ceiling filled with ancient books and manuscripts. The room features some exhibited ancient manuscripts, three of which in Armenian. There are several other exhibition rooms worth walking through at any time.