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![[picture: Front Cover]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/tn/00-frontcover-q75-500x306.jpg "[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
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.
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``S'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-s-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``S'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “S” from 16th Century
This capital letter “S” 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 king as a beast, and a bird-beast. [more...] [$]
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``T'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-t-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``T'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “T” from 16th Century
This capital letter “T” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``U'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-u-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``U'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “U” from 16th Century
This capital letter “U” 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 sun, with rays and a face rather like a lion; perhaps it would be good for a chapter opening in a Narnia book! Note that this is [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: Happy bashful fiery sun face drawing]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-detail-happy-fiery-sun-q67-145x200.jpg "[picture: Happy bashful fiery sun face drawing]")
Happy bashful fiery sun face drawing
This reddish-yellow sun face has an out-of-control hairdo and a cute smile; it’s a detail from a Sixteenth Century decorative initial letter “U”. [more...] [$]
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``V'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-v-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``V'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “V” from 16th Century
This capital letter “V” 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 mediæval court jester! Note that in 16th century manuscripts this letter would [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``Y'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-y-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``Y'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “Y” from 16th Century
This capital letter “Y” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: 52.---16th Century from Wood Engravings]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/052-16th-Century-from-Wood-Engravings-q75-138x200.jpg "[picture: 52.---16th Century from Wood Engravings]")
52.—16th Century from Wood Engravings
This is not a good scan; I plan to replace it with one made at a higher resolution. It is an alphabet with some ornate decoration and flourishes. [more...] [$]
![[picture: 53.---Mongrams, Crosses, etc. [overview]]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-overview-q75-303x200.jpg "[picture: 53.---Mongrams, Crosses, etc. [overview]]")
53.—Mongrams, Crosses, etc. [overview]
Monograms (e.g. IHS), gothic crosses and other religious symbols. [more...] [$]
![[picture: 53.1.---Cross of the Holy Name]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img01-q75-147x200.jpg "[picture: 53.1.---Cross of the Holy Name]")
![[picture: 53.2.---IHS Monogram]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img02-IHS-q75-208x200.jpg "[picture: 53.2.---IHS Monogram]")
![[picture: 53.3.---Clubs]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img03-clubs-q75-186x200.jpg "[picture: 53.3.---Clubs]")
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![[picture: 53.4.---Decorative Cross]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img04-fleur-wheel-q75-190x200.jpg "[picture: 53.4.---Decorative Cross]")
