Zanerian Certificates

Graduates of The Zanerian College were required to pen their own certificate depending on their area of study. Students were awarded colored seals based on their level of achievement with a Gold Seal being the highest followed by Red and Green in that order. This page provides links to images of all known certificates.

Clinton C. Canan

The discovery of Canan’s certificate (Vitolo Collection) was a very significant find. Penned in 1893 while the college was still ‘The Zanerian Art College’ and seals were not awarded (apparently). Canan’s brief career did not prevent him from being regarded as one of the most skilled ornamental penman ever to use a pen. Zaner-Bloser would eventually publish a book to highlight the work of this master. Only one other penman to my knowledge has received this honor from Zaner-Bloser, the great Louis Madarasz…..Joe Vitolo

William A. Lilly

Gold Seal certificate in Engrosser’s script.

Chris Costaras

Gold Seal certificate in Engrossing

Milton J. Miller

Red Seal certificate in Engrosser’s script (D’Aquanno Collection)

Lester L. Fields

Gold Seal certificate in Engrosser’s script (Vitolo Collection)

James K. Lowe

Certificate in Engrosser’s script (Seal color unknown)

Mary Champion

Certificate in Modern Handwriting (Seal color unknown)

In addition, we have located two ‘model’ certificates penned by the man himself Charles P. Zaner, founder of The Zanerian College, for his students to use as a guide. These two breath taking rare specimens are penned in Engrosser’s script (Vitolo Collection) and the other in Ornamental/Artistic script (Hurford Collection).

Zaner’s Model Certificate for Ornamental Script

Zaner’s Model Certificate for Engrosser’s Script

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