Presentation Scroll

When I was working in Cornwall many years ago, our chief draughtsman was asked to prepare a presentation scroll for an important person who had just been honoured in some way or other by the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The draughtsman was a fine artist, and he began meticulously to prepare a hand-lettered manuscript on calfskin vellum. In order to set the lettering out evenly, he started on a centre line with the middle of each word, and worked outwards.

The work was progressing nicely - fine romanesque capitals, shadowing and gilded highlights - then we heard a chuckle rumbling from the direction of his drawing board, followed by helpless laughter. We gathered round and viewed the presentation scroll in all its splendour. It said: