This is a Large antique French handwritten calligraphy workbook. It measures approximately 13.5" x 19.5" and has been stored in a large marbled book folder. The title page, dated 1838 ("année 1838"), titled "Cahier d'écriture" (Writing Notebook), and associated with the Christian Brothers school ("Pensionnaire des Frères des écoles chrétiennes"). It is a schoolboy's handwriting practice book, which is amazing. It contains 17 pages of his handwritten work.
The notebook belonged to a student named Jean Heric, who specifies that he is originally from Agde, a Mediterranean coastal town in southern France. He was a boarding student (pensionnaire) under the care of the Frères des écoles chrétiennes (Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools). Founded by St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, this religious teaching order was deeply influential in providing structured primary education across France. The school he attended was located in the nearby city of Béziers.
In the 1830s, mastery of handwriting styles (such as la coulée, la ronde, or la bâtarde) was a vital component of a French education. Students routinely produced showcase title pages for their schoolwork utilizing advanced decorative penmanship
Title:Cahier d'écriture(Writing Notebook)
Date:1838
Style:Ornate copperplate / roundhand flourish calligraphy typical of French school exercises from the period.
Institution:Connected to the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Frères des ÉcolesChrétiennes).
