Scrimshaw lettering style help needed -1830's

[Stonecove]

Hello This is my first post here, but I have looked around and like what I see! I hope I can offer something to the group!
I am making my first powder horn from cattle horn. I am trying to make it authentic to the 1830's or before and can't seem to find a period correct alphabet and numbers pattern to use. I don't want to go to all the trouble of hand making the horn and putting a modern style of engraving on it. I have already engraved a map of Michigan Territory and the Great Lakes from 1830 on it and want to add appropriate land marks etc. It will also have the makers name and "his horn" so the lettering is important.
Do you have any ideas where I can find such an alphabet? I already spent an hour and a half googling but got nowhere.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your help.
Stonecove

 

[Birdman]

Stone, does the map have lettering on it? If it does then Google a seach for alphebets and caligraphy and try to match the styles up. From what I've seen just about any of the old germanic styles of caligraphy should be ok to use as they have been around from well before the early 1800s.Also many of the horns I've seen done use very simple straight up lettering, I think because it was easy to read and do. Just some thoughts YMHS Birdman

 

[AZ-Robert]

Wouldn't it pretty much be the same style that was in use on signs and advertising of the period, albeit in a simplified (easier for carving) variation? You might be able to find enough examples of those to work from.

Not directly related, but just now found this interesting site on a google:

http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/catalogues/sketches_index.html

The map scale at the bottom contains links to other pages on the site. Check out "3" - it will take you to some maps, complete with lettering.

 

[AZ-Robert]

And navigating around a little can get you some large-size views of the maps. Example:

http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/maps/477mapfull.html

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

This might be of some help:

18th Century handwriting

 

[Stonecove]

Hey Guys thanks for the leads. The site with the maps is very useful to see how a map is properly marked. There are some great maps, like the Ft. Miggs maps. (I work about 5 miles from the old fort and had lunch in the parking lot last week!)
The 1800 handwriting site is nice too as it is a complete alphabet, which is hard to find.
Unfortunately nothing jumps right out so I'll keep looking.
Again thanks for your leads and I will post here if I find something useful.
Stonecove

 

[BLAHMAN]

Don't forget, back then education was difficult to achieve and folks didn't spell things the way we do now. A few misspelled phrases lends to the ambiance of the work!

(Just in case you were wondering what 'ambiance' means, well....I'm not really sure, just thought it would look good on my post!)

 

[Stonecove]

Hey there Blahman, Eye kan shur agre with that missspellin thang. I seen sum grate xamples on horn i seen in Books!
Hey seriously for those that might later read this thread, I found a great site that sells (kind of expensive) old colonial style fonts for your computer. Here is the link
http://www.fontcraft.com/scriptorium/colonial/index.html
Fontcraft is the name of the company and they have a lot of different fonts. These deal with handwriting and map styles, Just what I was looking for. I was hoping to get them for free, but this project may be worth the investment.
Thanks for your help! Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon.
Stonecove

 

[BLAHMAN]

Thanks Stonecove, that's a hoot! I'll look it up!