Hidden Books @ University of Iowa's Special Collections Department
![Columbian Hand Press adorns the entrance to the University of Iowa Special Collections Reading Room](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8670.jpg)
I visited the University of Iowa's Special Collections library on Tuesday and Wednesday for a couple of hours. While I didn't know what I would find, I was hoping there'd be something.
The director, Greg Prickman took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to speak with me and talk about how the collection was amassed. There are quite a few incunabula (books printed before 1501) which were acquired from Classics professors donating their collections to permanent loans to purchases to fill out the history of printing subject area.
![The Universal Penman by George Bickham at the University of Iowa Special Collections](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8675.jpg)
![The Universal Penman by George Bickham at the University of Iowa's Special Collections Reading Room](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8688.jpg)
![The Universal Penman by George Bickham X 3 @ UI Special Collections](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8673.jpg)
I discovered that they have 4 writing manuals. Three copies of G. Bickham's Universal Penman from 1733 and two later dates as well as a 1585 copy of Scalzini's Il secretario.
EDIT:
Scalzini is known for his flourishes or "command of hand." He argued that a light touch and quick execution was necessary for a successful commercial scribe. Attacking his senior, Giovanni Francesco Cresci as spending too much time on careful execution and too-sharp a pen nib, Scalzini's scathing remarks became standard fare for writing-master wars.
![Marcello Scalzini portrait @ 24. In the front of Il Secretario 1585 at the University of Iowa Special Collections](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8700.jpg)
![Scalzini's Il Secretario 1585 at the University of Iowa Special Collections](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8702.jpg)
![Scalzini's Il Secretario 1585 at the University of Iowa Special Collections](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8708.jpg)
![An inverted manicule in the letterpress section of Il Secretario by Scalzini at the University of Iowa Special Collections](https://www.motoscribendi.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/img_8709.jpg)
In visiting Iowa's Special Collections reading room, I was impressed by how inviting and comfortable it was as a first time reader to get acclimated. Each library has its own style, rules and etiquette. Iowa welcomes its scholars with a directness and warmth that made me feel welcome instantly. The system for searching and discovering material is straightforward as is the requesting of items for research.
I look forward to going back when I have more than a couple of hours to delve into their collection further.