The Magic of Handwriting: The Pedro Corrêa do Lago Collection

The Morgan Library and Museum showcased a who's who of handwriting exhibits last year that I really need to show you. From their website:

Handwriting works magic: it transports us back to defining moments in history, creativity, and everyday life and connects us intimately with the people who marked the page. For nearly half a century, Brazilian author and publisher Pedro Corrêa do Lago has been assembling one of the most comprehensive autograph collections of our age, acquiring thousands of handwritten letters, manuscripts, and musical compositions as well as inscribed photographs, drawings, and documents.  This exhibition—the first to be drawn from his extraordinary collection—features some 140 items, including  letters by Lucrezia Borgia, Vincent van Gogh, and Emily Dickinson, annotated sketches by Michelangelo, Jean Cocteau, and Charlie Chaplin, and manuscripts by Giacomo Puccini, Jorge Luis Borges, and Marcel Proust.

Rather than focusing on a single figure, era, or subject, Corrêa do Lago made the ambitious decision to seek significant examples in six broad areas of human endeavor—art, history, literature, science, music, and entertainment—spanning nearly nine hundred years. From an 1153 document signed by four medieval popes to a 2006 thumbprint signature of physicist Stephen Hawking, the items on view convey the power of handwriting to connect us with writers, artists, composers, political figures, performers, explorers, scientists, philosophers, rebels, and others whose actions and creations have made them legends.

I found this exhibit to be really quite fantastic. To see the handwriting of Russian Royalty, a papercut made possibly in 1871 (that was totally gorgeous!), Frida Kahlo, Josephine Baker, The Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Abe Lincoln, Al Capone, a 7 year old Princess Victoria (to be Queen Victoria), and Marie Antoinette is a real treat. I think it is sad that handwriting is going out of style, with computers and cell phones, it is something to be kept as is such a large part of history. I hope you enjoy looking through these wonderful items as much as I did. The Morgan Library is always a wonderful stop in the city, so many treasures to be found!!  

The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
New York, NY 10016

Hours 
The Morgan Library & Museum and the Morgan Shop are open
Tuesday through Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Monday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

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CaitlynMinimalist on Etsy

I really felt the need to write this post for you. Many of you know my Mom passed away this January, and it's been a very tough year for me personally. This is not a sponsored post in any way. I am a huge fan of Etsy, and finding wonderful products that are handmade. Just after my Mom passed away, I found CaitlynMinimalist, which takes handwriting and turns it into jewelry. I was really excited to have my name in my Mom's handwriting that I could wear on a daily basis. 

This is my Mom's handwriting in a 18K gold filled necklace and it is so wonderfu! I wear it daily, and when I have worn it to New York City, I get a compliment each time. They are so loving her handwriting, and my Mom would have been so happy to hear that. These items are so unique, one of a kind, because I am the only one who will have this necklace. It is such a great memory to have for me, I feel so lucky!  

I then ordered one with my Dad's handwriting, in the sterling silver and a longer chain. My Dad wrote very fancy, and this came out so awesome! So I now switch each day, each necklace, I never leave the house without one on. 

This is really sweet from their shop, of a child's drawing, that they turned into a necklace. What a great piece to have for a Mom, Grandma or Aunt! 

They also make rings and bracelets, and I think this is such a wonderful idea. The items make for such original gifts, and an item no one else will have. I just felt the need to show you here, and give the link to their Etsy shop, in case you wanted to have something made for yourself or a gift for someone else. You will cherish these items, I can totally tell you that from my experience. 

CaitlynMinimalist on Etsy 

Let me know if you do order, how you liked your piece! I think you will be very happy with it. My main note would be to give yourself enough time to receive the item for a special occasion as it does take a few weeks for these very personalized piece of jewelry.

Be sure to enter to win some of Monica's Gourmet Cookies HERE !! 

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