Words and Pictures From Old Books

Decorative initial (drop cap) D, from The New World (1671), added on 18th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:56:00 GMT

A decorative letter “D” used as an initial capital (a drop capital, or drop cap) in this Dutch book from 1671.

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53.31.---thistle decoration or page element., from Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (1879), added on 17th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:04:00 GMT

A small thistle emblem used as a decorative page element or ornament.

This image is taken from plate 53.

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53.32.---Fleur-de-lys, from Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (1879), added on 17th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:02:00 GMT

Another Fleur-de-lys.

This image is taken from plate 53.

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Apteryx Mantelli. From a Photograph., from The Leisure Hour (1896), added on 17th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:40:00 GMT

The Apteryx is the name given to the genus of birds moer commonly known as the kiwi; they are native to New Zealand. The Apteryx Mantelli is the north Island Brown Kiwi bird.

Wikipedia on the Kiwi Bird

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The Magpie, from The Natural History of Selborne (1879), added on 16th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:20:00 GMT

Magpies and jays flutter with powerless wings, and make no dispatch; herons seem incumbered with too much sail for their light bodies; but these vast hollow wings are necessary in carrying burdens, such as large fishes, and the like; pigeons, and particularly the sort called smiters, have a way of clashing their wings the one against the other over their backs with a loud snap; another variety called tumblers turn themselves over in the air.

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High Street, Chelmsford, from The British Isles (1905), added on 14th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:14:00 GMT

The high street [US: main street] in Chelmsford, Essex, around 1900. There are people riding bicycles, carts and carriages drawn by horses, and a sign visible reading “Barnard Cabinet Maker Upholsterer & Decorator.”

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Bala Town and Lake, from The British Isles (1905), added on 14th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:14:00 GMT

Bala is a market town in Gwynedd, North Wales; when this picture was taken, the town was rather small.

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Figures., from Manuel Typographique, utile Aux Gens de Lettres (1766), added on 13th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:55:00 GMT

Figures
Pour les Missels. [i.e. for prayer-books and religious music]

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Quaint Pointy Hands And Things, from Manuel Typographique, utile Aux Gens de Lettres (1766), added on 13th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:54:00 GMT

Some 18th century printed signs of direction, including pointing hands (called an index today), and also rings pieced by arrows, from page 133.

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Border from Figures pour les Missels, from Manuel Typographique, utile Aux Gens de Lettres (1766), added on 13th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:54:00 GMT

This is an 18th century French border used to surround a page; it is not perfect. For example, one part of the border near the top left corner is actually upside down. But its imperfection is part of its charm. You can also see the whole page.

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Angers, from Cathedral Cities of France (1907), added on 9th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:39:00 GMT

“The French yearning to make everything new” has done its work in Angers, but through Fulk, Geoffrey, René, and the rest would be at a loss to recognise their old capital in the trim modern town, enough remains to show us what has been. No city standing as Angers does on rising ground above a wide river, with a mass of castle bastions sloping up the hill, could fail to have made history in its day. The modern town may be disposed of in a few words —it is clean and full of life, and altogether very far removed from the “black Angers” known to our ancestors. This mediæval and grm-sounding title, reminiscent of dungeons and tyrant princes, probably either meant that the ancient town was closely and squalidly built, or else referred to the dark slate with which the country abounds, and which might well have been used for buildig purposes all over the town, as we will see it in some houses by the river.

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Arches of Cloister of S. Aubin's Abbey, Angers, from A Short History of the English People (1902), added on 7th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:08:00 GMT

The Abbey of S. Aubin, founded in Merovingian times, seems to have been rebuilt by Geoffrey Greygown and Fulk the Black. “Only one huge tower remains, but fragments of it are still to be seen embedded in the buildings of the Preéfecture—above all a Romanesque arcade, fretted with tangled imagery and apocalyptic figures of the richest work of the eleventh century” (“Stray Studies,” p. 369). This arcade, here figured, seems to have been part of the cloister.

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The Raven (Corvus Corax), from The Natural History of Selborne (1879), added on 6th July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:22:00 GMT

There is a peculiarity belonging to ravens tht must draw the attention even of the most incurious—they spend all their leisure time in striking and cuffing each other on the wing in a kind of playful skirmish; and, when they move from one place to another, frequently turn on their backs with a loud croak, and seem to be falling ot the ground. When this odd gesture betides them, they are scratching themselves with one foot, and thus lose the centre of gravity. (p. 233)

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The Bear, from Wood Engravings by Thomas Bewick (1947), added on 2nd July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:14:00 GMT

The Bear, from A General History of Quadrupeds (Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1790). It appears to be chained in place, although I cannot say that it seems a very accurate depiction.

You can also buy a royalty-free high-resolution version of this image from Alamay (search for bewick bear)

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The Horse, from Wood Engravings by Thomas Bewick (1947), added on 2nd July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:08:00 GMT

The Horse, from A General History of Quadrupeds (Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1790).

You can also buy a royalty-free high-resolution version of this image from Alamay (search for bewick horse)

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The Bull, from Wood Engravings by Thomas Bewick (1947), added on 2nd July 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:58:00 GMT

The Bull from A General History of Quadrupeds (Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1790).

You can also buy a royalty-free high-resolution version of this image from Alamay (search for bewick bull)

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Title page, 1737 English Dictionary, from Canting Dictionary (1736), added on 29th June 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:30:00 GMT

The Canting Dictionary doesn’t seem to be mentioned on the title page particularly.

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Front Cover, 1737 English Dictionary (includes thieving slang), from Canting Dictionary (1736), added on 29th June 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:30:00 GMT

The front cover is actually detached, and was when the book was so kindly given to me by Hugh Anson-Cartwright.

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193.---Costume of a Soldier. From Cotton MS. Tib. C. 6., from Old England: A Pictorial Museum (1845), added on 28th June 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:01:00 GMT

Cotton Manuscript Tiberius C. vi is a psalter from the 11th century. The soldier here has a beard pointy shoes (and striped socks I think), and carries a spear.

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72. Seal of Andromalius., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1904), added on 25th June 2008

liam@holoweb.net (Liam Quin) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:20:00 GMT

(72.) Andromalius. — The Seventy-second Spirit in Order is named Andromalius. He is an Earl, Great and Mighty, appearing in the Form of a Man holding a Great Serpent in his Hand. His Office is to bring back both a Thief, and the Goods which be stolen; and to discover all Wickedness, and Underhand Dealing; and to punish all Thieves and other Wicked People and also to discover Treasures that be Hid. He ruleth over 36 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, the which wear thou as aforesaid, etc.

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