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| Letter from Janusz Korczak to his friend, Zrubavel Gilad, from the kibbutz Ein Harod. At the end of this letter, written on August 22, 1939 (just before WWII started), Korczak wrote: Do not answer to this letter, as we will see each other soon. Observe enlarged letters B and P. Over the letters m and n, Korczak used to draw horizontal lines. Also, his "a" is special. |
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| The handwriting is clearly Korczak's, with his typical letters P, B, K, ż (looking like Russian z-з), and R – the latter resembling a 'V'. From his story Death Head (At Midnight). |
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| The handwriting is clearly Korczak's, with his typical letters P, B, K, ż (looking like Russian z-з), and R – the latter resembling a 'V'. From his story Death Head (At Midnight). |
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| Corporal Dot Gets Angry (Kapral Kropka się gniewa) is another well-known Janusz Korczak handwriting. |
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| Corporal Dot Gets Angry (Kapral Kropka się gniewa) is another well-known Janusz Korczak handwriting. |
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| Part of the handwritten copy of Henryk Goldszmit's medical diploma, transcribed from the original held in the archives in 1932, as Korczak had misplaced his own copy of this significant document. |
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| Korczak's letter to the Board of K.P.R. (Kółko Pożytecznych Rozrywek) (Circle of Useful Amusements) about the purchase of the ball. K.P.R. was a core, self-governing initiative that had special finances. It had different divisions as a sports club or a theatre drama group. K.P.R. organized entertainment, games, and other cultural activities. Pöease observe the way Korczak was writing uppercase K, R, and P. 1924. |
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| Letter from Janusz Korczak to his friend, Zrubavel Gilad, from the kibbutz Ein Harod. In the letter written on August 22, 1939. Just before WWII started, Korczak wrote: Do not answer to this letter, as we will see each other soon. Observe that letter K in Korczak (when signing) is different from the ones he usually uses (V with short supporting "chair leg"). Over the letters m and n, Korczak draws horizontal lines. |
Surviving examples of Janusz Korczak's handwriting were, in the majority, saved by his former students and co-workers who left before WWII for Eretz Israel. His correspondence, with his handwriting, consists of 70 letters. These are the only known original handwritten documents by him outside of official records. Janusz Korczak's handwriting was quite distinctive and remained relatively unchanged over the years.
In my opinion, the most characteristic letter written by Korczak is the letter P. Korczak used an uppercase P as a lowercase p. It was clear that he liked writing this letter, which, in his execution, looked more like the number 8 than a P.
Another special letter of Korczak's is the uppercase R. It resembles an enlarged lowercase "r", which in Korczak's handwriting appears as the letter "V".
Korczak seemingly did not like writing the letter K, whether lowercase or uppercase. His K looks like a letter "V" with a short stroke at the bottom. This short stroke, supporting the V, is, in most cases, thicker than the rest. It is evident that Korczak, as if impatient, pressed the pen nib harder.
Perhaps the most difficult to decipher in Korczak’s hand is the letter B; look at the name Bylcia.
Other distinct letters are the uppercase and lowercase J, where the bottom part of the letter—let’s call it the end of the hook—is turned to the right.
Two other special letters of Korczak's are z and ż. In Korczak's (early) execution, they resemble the lowercase "z" written with a loop at the bottom. Apparently, this is how Polish cursive used to be written. To me, it looks like a typical Russian з, which, in the case of the letter ż, he simply crossed through the middle.
Over the letters m and n, Korczak draws horizontal lines. I do not know why.
Korczak’s texts are slightly slanted to the right by 5–10 degrees.
In my opinion, the most characteristic letter written by Korczak is the letter P. Korczak used an uppercase P as a lowercase p. It was clear that he liked writing this letter, which, in his execution, looked more like the number 8 than a P.
Another special letter of Korczak's is the uppercase R. It resembles an enlarged lowercase "r", which in Korczak's handwriting appears as the letter "V".
Korczak seemingly did not like writing the letter K, whether lowercase or uppercase. His K looks like a letter "V" with a short stroke at the bottom. This short stroke, supporting the V, is, in most cases, thicker than the rest. It is evident that Korczak, as if impatient, pressed the pen nib harder.
Perhaps the most difficult to decipher in Korczak’s hand is the letter B; look at the name Bylcia.
Other distinct letters are the uppercase and lowercase J, where the bottom part of the letter—let’s call it the end of the hook—is turned to the right.
Two other special letters of Korczak's are z and ż. In Korczak's (early) execution, they resemble the lowercase "z" written with a loop at the bottom. Apparently, this is how Polish cursive used to be written. To me, it looks like a typical Russian з, which, in the case of the letter ż, he simply crossed through the middle.
Over the letters m and n, Korczak draws horizontal lines. I do not know why.
Korczak’s texts are slightly slanted to the right by 5–10 degrees.
