It is hard to imagine a time when people learned how to make calligraphic drawings like this as a matter of course; just amazing. Originally used as an exercise to train students to perfect their handwriting, "Spencerian" steel pen drawings provided an diversion from the more repetitive practice of writing alphabets. Calligraphic drawing also gave the accomplished scribe a means of showing his or her ability and gave penmanship masters a way to advertise their profession. The name comes from   Platt Rogers Spencer (1800–1864), the best known of the nineteenth-century penmanship instructors, who in addition to teaching promoted his method of “Semi-Angular” penmanship in a series of copybooks that also contained ornamental exercises.

This beautiful example, on white laid and featuring two birds with a scrolling ribbon and decorative flourishes all around, was done by H. Descroches and is dated November 21, 1891. It is of a nice scale and in a simple antique black painted wooden frame, which shows some wear around the edges but I think suits it perfectly. Framed dimensions: 11 1/4" x 9 1/4". The drawing is in very good condition, crisp and bright, with very minor age toning.  Recently papered back on the frame, and wired for hanging. There is a little goo on the glass at bottom left that I have since removed. Photos also show a little glare, not flaws.)