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Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (page 1/10)

details...
[picture: Front Cover]

Scans from The Book of Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval collected and engraved by Freeman Gage Delamotte (1814 – 1862); London, Crosby Lockwood and Co., 1879

If anyone is interested, I’ll try and do some better scans of the alphabets and examples of calligraphy and calligraphic initials in this book.

(Note: Mediæval is the older British English spelling of Mediaeval, or Medieval).

The full title page is transcribed alongside its image. This is an oblong octavo with alphabets printed in various colours including red, green and brown.

Title: Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval

Author: Delamotte, F.

City: London

Date: 1879

Total items: 102

Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.

Some sample images

[picture: Front Cover]
[picture: 53.13.---Floret]

53.13.—Floret

A small decorative ornament, wither a printer’s ornament or taken from an illuminated manuscript or carving. [more...] [$]

[picture: Decorative initial letter ``P'' from 16th Century]

Decorative initial letter “P” from 16th Century

This ornamental capital “p” in white on black is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial. It is taken from a sixteenth-century alphabet in white on black. [more...] [$]

[picture: Decorative initial letter ``L'' from 16th Century]

Decorative initial letter “L” from 16th Century

This ornamental capital “l” in white on black is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial. It is taken from a sixteenth-century alphabet in white on black. [more...] [$]

[picture: 53.6.---Cross with Circle]

53.6.—Cross with Circle

Perhaps the circle represents the world, the inner signs the four nails used to crucify the naked Jesus, the outer branches of the cross with the fleurons representing the religion itself. This would make it a variation of the symbol for evangelists, perhaps [...] [more...] [$]


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