Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. It was handwritten on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from goose feathers. The font used in the original document is known as Roundhand, specifically a variant of English round-hand known today as copperplate. The calligraphic headings, We the People and Article, may have been inserted by Shallus' 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. Today, there are several typefaces available that resemble the handwriting in the Constitution, such as American Scribe and P22 Declaration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | We The People Font |
| Other Names | American Scribe, P22 Declaration, US Declaration |
| Style | Cursive, Roundhand, Copperplate |
| Typeface | British Caslon |
| Creator | Jacob Shallus |
| License | Free for personal use |
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What You'll Learn
- The font used in the US Constitution is called Roundhand or English round-hand
- The document was written by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly
- The font American Scribe is made to resemble the handwriting in the US Constitution
- The first printing of the Constitution used the British typeface Caslon
- The We the People font is based on the calligraphy in the US Constitution
The font used in the US Constitution is called Roundhand or English round-hand
Roundhand is known for its distinctive line variance, which would be difficult to replicate with most modern writing instruments. The quill used by Shallus left certain idiosyncrasies that are evident in the writing, giving it a unique character. The font has a certain elegant swagger, particularly noticeable in the wavy t, h, and l, which also extend to the b, f, and k.
The calligraphic headings, such as "We the People" and "Article," may have been inserted by Shallus's 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. The manner in which the "Article" headings are squeezed into the space and the inconsistent structure of the letter "n" suggest the work of a novice. The simpler, Schwabacher-style "W" is less flamboyant than the capital "W" found in German and Square texts in Bickham's manuals.
The font "American Scribe" is designed to resemble the handwriting in the US Constitution. P22 Declaration was also created to be an exact copy, including the sizes. However, these fonts are commercial and require a license to use. For those seeking a free alternative, "US Declaration" is available for personal use, although the designer requests an email for commercial use.
The Written Constitution's Core Function: Law and Order
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The document was written by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly
The United States Constitution was written by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. Shallus penned the document in iron gall ink using a quill, likely made from goose feathers. The Constitution is written in a style of calligraphy known as "Roundhand," which features distinctive line variance. This style of handwriting would be challenging to replicate with most modern writing instruments due to its unique characteristics that likely could only be produced by a quill.
Roundhand calligraphy has many varieties, and the specific style used by Shallus may be influenced by the writing instruments and materials available at the time. The choice of a quill and animal skin as the writing surface would have contributed to the unique characteristics of the Constitution's handwriting.
The "We the People" font, created by K-Type, is inspired by the calligraphy in the Constitution's headings. It captures the elegant swagger of certain letters, such as the wavy t, h, and l, while also offering a simpler, Schwabacher-style W. This font is available for free for personal use, including for students, teachers, and educational institutions.
It's worth noting that the calligraphic headings may have been the work of Shallus's 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. The slight inconsistencies and the way the "Article" headings are squeezed into the space suggest the hand of a novice writer.
Today, there are various fonts designed to resemble the handwriting in the Constitution, such as "American Scribe" and "P22 Declaration." These commercial fonts are made to replicate the unique style of the Constitution's calligraphy, including the size and layout. For those seeking a free alternative, the "US Declaration" font is available for personal use with the designer's permission for commercial use.
The font American Scribe is made to resemble the handwriting in the US Constitution
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, between 1750 and 1796. Shallus wrote the document on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from a goose feather. The font used in the US Constitution is called "Roundhand", of which there are many varieties. One of these varieties is the font "American Scribe", which is made to resemble the handwriting in the US Constitution. The font P22 Declaration was also conceived to be an exact copy of American Scribe, including the sizes.
The calligraphy in the headings, such as "We the People" and "Article", may have been written by Shallus's 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. The manner in which the "Article" headings are squeezed into the space available suggests that they were written by someone less experienced. The unconventional backslant of the headings also supports this contention. At the end of the document, there is a novice's inconsistency in the structure of the letter "n" between that used for "done" and "In Witness".
The "Roundhand" font family is known for its distinctive line variance, which would be difficult to replicate with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments. The quill used by Shallus had certain idiosyncrasies, which are evident in the writing it produced. Those interested in learning more about early-American Roundhand can refer to The Art of Writing (1813) by John Jenkins.
The "American Scribe" font is a commercial font, which may not be suitable for those on a tight budget. A free alternative is the "US Declaration" font, which has a similar style. However, the designer requests that users send him an email if they intend to use it for commercial purposes. For those who find the backslant of "US Declaration" awkward or unpleasant, a licensed typeface with a vertical aspect is available from k-type.com. This typeface includes two additional fonts, "We The People Upright" and "We The People Upright Bold", which retain the distinctive style while adding a slightly heavier weight.
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The first printing of the Constitution used the British typeface Caslon
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787 and was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The original document was handwritten on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely that of a goose. The document was written in "Roundhand", a style of cursive writing with many varieties.
The choice of Caslon for the first printing of the Constitution may have been influenced by the desire to present a unified and distinct American identity. At the time, Caslon was also used in Britain and its colonies, so its use may have been a deliberate choice to align the young nation with the established typography of the British.
The use of Caslon in the first printing of the Constitution also had practical advantages. As a clear and easily readable typeface, it would have been well-suited to the task of communicating the newly established laws and principles of the nation. The typeface's simplicity and legibility would have made it accessible to a wide audience, which was crucial for a document of such importance.
Today, the use of Caslon in the first printing of the Constitution is a reminder of the historical and cultural ties between the United States and Great Britain. It also showcases the evolution of typography and design, as well as the significant role played by the printing press in shaping early American history and nation-building.
The We the People font is based on the calligraphy in the US Constitution
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. Shallus penned the text on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from a goose feather. The document is written in "Roundhand", a style with many varieties, though the specific font used by Shallus is unknown.
The "We the People" font was inspired by the calligraphy of the US Constitution. It captures the elegant swagger of the original document's wavy t, h, and l, extending this style to other letters like b, f, and k. The font also features a simpler, Schwabacher-style W, an enlarged version of the lowercase w, which is less flamboyant than the capital W found in German and Square texts in Bickham's manuals.
While the "We the People" font is based on the calligraphy of the US Constitution, it offers some variations. For instance, it includes the unconventional backslant of the headings "We the People" and "Article," which may have been written by Shallus's 14-year-old trainee son, Francis. At the end of the document, there is a potential novice's inconsistency in the structure of the letter "n" between the words "done" and "In Witness."
The "We the People" font is available for free for personal use by students, teachers, and educational institutions. It can be downloaded from k-type.com, where two additional fonts with a vertical aspect, "We The People Upright" and "We The People Upright Bold," are also available for licensed use. These additional fonts retain the distinctive style while offering a heavier weight that adds a slight punch.
The US Constitution's calligraphy has inspired not only the "We the People" font but also other typefaces like "American Scribe" and "P22 Declaration," which was conceived to be an exact copy, including the sizes. These commercial fonts provide options for those seeking a script font resembling the handwriting of the US Constitution.
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was originally written in \"Roundhand\", a style of calligraphy that was popular in the 18th century.
The US Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
The US Constitution was written on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from goose feathers.
Benjamin Franklin chose the British typeface "Caslon" for the first printing of the US Constitution.
Yes, the "American Scribe" and "P22 Declaration" fonts are made to resemble the handwriting in the US Constitution. Additionally, the "We the People" font family is based on the calligraphic headings in the document.
