Purchase, December 2010.
The collection is open for research.
Use of materials from this collection beyond the
exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S.
Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is
required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections
Department, University of Delaware Library,
MSS 093, Item 018, Lester Black sample book of calligraphic calling cards, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Processed and encoded by Anita Wellner, February 2011.
Lester F. Black described his work in a brief rhyming note on the final page of the sample book. He wrote: "This book belongs to Lester Black. A man of great renown, He'll write you cards with skill-ful knack, And do the job up brown." Black's calling card is laid in the sample book and on it he identified himself as a "penman." Black was probably from the United States since the cent sign is used on two cards.
Lester F. Black penned the calling cards in this late nineteenth-century volume of thirty calligraphic samples, as well as a brief note on the final page.
This small notebook, with a handwritten cover title "Sample Book," contains samples of thirty calling cards penned by Black on a variety of cards. Four of the cards have a black background and are inscribed in white ink, while others have sculptured borders with gilt edges. Two have Victorian onlay in the shape of a hand pointing to the name. Additionally Black's own calling card is laid in the back of the volume next to the final page on which he wrote a brief note about his work.
This item forms part of MSS 093 Commonplaces, Albums, and Scrapbooks collection.