The Zanerian College of Penmanship

The Zanerian College of Penmanship The Zanerian Art College Co. was founded in Columbus, Ohio by Charles Paxton Zaner in 1888. This pages celebrates all things Zanerian (and Z&B as well)

Permanently closed.

The school later changed its name to the Zanerian College of Penmanship.

There were a few locations for The Zanerian College in the city of Columbus. In the first photo we have a North High Str...
05/17/2026

There were a few locations for The Zanerian College in the city of Columbus. In the first photo we have a North High Street location taken from a 1916 school catalog. In early 1922, this 3-story building on North Park St. shown in the second photo, became their permanent address.

Zaner-Bloser handwriting pin...circa 1910s.celluloid pin with paper backing. Great color and condition. These come up on...
02/27/2026

Zaner-Bloser handwriting pin...circa 1910s.celluloid pin with paper backing. Great color and condition. These come up online from time to time.

Zanerian College graduating Class of 1912. Closer view in the second photo. And, if you look closely in the back behind ...
12/10/2025

Zanerian College graduating Class of 1912. Closer view in the second photo. And, if you look closely in the back behind the top row....the Zanerian Pennant :). Although this pennant does seem larger and looks as if it has a different color scheme. May be an earlier version.
courtesy of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Recent acquisition!!! I've been looking for a Zanerian College Pennant for at least 10 years. In all that time I've only...
12/09/2025

Recent acquisition!!! I've been looking for a Zanerian College Pennant for at least 10 years. In all that time I've only ever seen one come up for sale and that one I missed. This time I got one!! These are beyond rare!! See second photo for this very pennant shown in the 1916 school catalogue.

The Best Obliques Z&B had to offer. These examples are all most likely from the early 1900s. From the top, the 11.5 inch...
12/01/2025

The Best Obliques Z&B had to offer. These examples are all most likely from the early 1900s. From the top, the 11.5 inch long tail Zanerian Fine Art. Next the 8" version. Bottom, a very early Zanerian 11.5 inch Plain Rosewood Oblique. Second pic is a close up to show just how beautifully made these are!
Much is made of the Magnusson holder, and I do own two, but IMHO the Fine Arts were the Best. Beautifully made and perfectly sized as far as thickness and overall weight. Mags, although well made as well, are just a bit too thin and light for me.
My everyday writer is an 8" Zanerian Plain Roswood. Very early version, and interesting. But we'll save that for another post :)

Some other Zanerian Pen holders....from front to back. A red Zanerian Method Straight holder, A Zanerian Method double ...
11/28/2025

Some other Zanerian Pen holders....from front to back. A red Zanerian Method Straight holder, A Zanerian Method double ended (one for black ink and other for red), a black straight Zanerian Method and finally a black Zanerian Expert Oblique. All in very nice condition. All made of painted wood.
Oh, way in the back there. A mostly filled box of Zanerian #4 Standard nibs. All bought long ago before prices for these things went cray-cray.

11 Zanerian Fine Writers. These guys are Gillott Prinicipalities but were stamped for The Zanerian School to sell. I als...
11/28/2025

11 Zanerian Fine Writers. These guys are Gillott Prinicipalities but were stamped for The Zanerian School to sell. I also have 9 or so Princies as well. Let me say these are as good as legend says lol.
I've only ever used one and one day I'll use another :). Prices for these guys are absurd. With today's ebay prices, you're looking at almost a thousand dollars worth of vintage nibs right here!!!

1893 Zanerian Class. What a group!!! Some big names in this class pic for sure. What a time!! What a place!! See second ...
03/13/2021

1893 Zanerian Class. What a group!!! Some big names in this class pic for sure. What a time!! What a place!! See second pic to match numbers with names.

Recently acquired Z&B hard rubber Horseshoe pen/pencil holder. Year unknown.
02/27/2021

Recently acquired Z&B hard rubber Horseshoe pen/pencil holder. Year unknown.

Old catalog page featuring Zanerian hoders. This Page's Manager is fortunate to own all three featured here. Wonderfully...
03/08/2020

Old catalog page featuring Zanerian hoders. This Page's Manager is fortunate to own all three featured here. Wonderfully made and a joy to write with!

Restored possible Zanerian Inkwell. Shown is after and before using hard rubber deoxidizer. Third image is an illustrati...
11/05/2019

Restored possible Zanerian Inkwell. Shown is after and before using hard rubber deoxidizer. Third image is an illustration from '20 Z&B catalog. The opening is a little to small to fit an oblique so this may be a similar well but not the one pictured in the catalog.

Address

612 N. Park Street
Columbus, OH

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