The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Edwardian Script vs Balmoral
Two commercial formal scripts from the ITC library, both built on the pointed-pen copperplate tradition. Edwardian Script is Ed Benguiat's 1994 calligraphic script, drawn to mimic the pressure-driven stroke contrast of a steel pointed pen, while Balmoral is Martin Wait's 1978 copperplate script with showy capitals and a restrained, joined lowercase.
Edwardian Script is a commercial font, so it is shown here in Mrs Saint Delafield, its closest free alternative. All free alternatives to Edwardian Script → Balmoral is a commercial font, so it is shown here in Pinyon Script, its closest free alternative. All free alternatives to Balmoral →
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
- Edwardian Script ships in two weights, Regular and Bold, whereas Balmoral is sold as a single style with no weight options.
- Edwardian Script was drawn to read like real handwriting, with connecting strokes refined until they flow like a pen, so it feels lyrical and intimate rather than engraved.
- Balmoral pairs generous initial capitals with a quieter lowercase, giving it the measured, ceremonial look of a certificate or diploma.
- Both are commercial fonts licensed through Monotype at roughly $41 per style for desktop, with separate paid licenses for web, app, and digital-ad use, so licensing cost is a factor for either.
Edwardian Script
Reach for Edwardian Script when you want a warm, handwritten-feeling formal script for wedding invitations, greeting cards, and brand marks, and you may need a bolder weight.
Balmoral
Reach for Balmoral for certificates, diplomas, and citations where tall flourished capitals over a restrained lowercase give a more official, engraved tone.