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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
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.
Decorative initial letter “G” from 16th Century
This capital “G” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and shows a dog, a hound, with a long-beaked bird or insect above it. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “H” from 16th Century
This capital “H” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and shows an archer, or more likely a jester or actor with a mask. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “I” from 16th Century
This capital “I” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and shows a dog biting a bone while being attacked by jellyfish (?), and also a lizard, and perhaps some holly in the background. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “J” from 16th Century
This capital “J” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is inspired by the 16th century alphabet, but I (Liam) made it from the letter I for modern usage. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “K” from 16th Century
This capital “K” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and features various grotesque faces sticking out tongues. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “L” from 16th Century
This capital “L” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and features a painter licking a brush, or perhaps a claw-footed demon eating a chicken drumstick while watching a movie, while overhead, a flying bird-fish devours a plant. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “M” from 16th Century
This capital “M” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and includes a lion and a thistle, symbols respectively of England and Scotland. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “N” from 16th Century
This capital “N” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and includes a fish wearing a crown and scarf or bandage. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “O” from 16th Century
This capital “O” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is a modern illusrtation based on the C, as the book didn’t include this letter. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “P” from 16th Century
This capital “P” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It includes a drawing of a pelican bird. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “Q” from 16th Century
This capital “Q” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It shows a peacock or a dragon. [more...] [$]
Decorative initial letter “R” from 16th Century
This capital letter “R” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It shows a [...] [more...] [$]
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