A set of lettering guides, ranging from 2.5 to 7 mm. Such guides are templates, consisting of a sheet of plastic or other material with carved alphabet letters and other shapes, used to write uniform characters in a drawing nameplate. Although since superseded in many areas by computers, for decades they were essential for lettering nameplates and helping illiterate or semi-illiterate people improve their handwriting.Photograph: Lucasbosch