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.
53.5.—Cross With Unkempt Hair
This might be a symbol representing a crown, with the crosses implying rule over a spirtual realm but with temporal power, such as an abbot or bishop. I don’t know what the hairstyle is about. Maybe it’s just a totally gothic cross. Or more likely [...] [more...] [$]
53.6.—Cross with Circle
Perhaps the circle represents the world, the inner signs the four nails used to crucify the naked Jesus, the outer branches of the cross with the fleurons representing the religion itself. This would make it a variation of the symbol for evangelists, perhaps [...] [more...] [$]
53.8.—IHS
The monogram IHS comes from the Greek for Jesus, IHESUS, or from the Latin Ihesus Hominum Salvator, which is, Jesus, saviour of Mankind (Jesus was the name of a religious person). A modern interpretation is In His Service. [more...] [$]
53.9.—Gothic Cross
A cross between a cross and the ace of clubs, or perhaps clover leaves. This is called a ‘budded cross’, and in heraldry a ‘treflee cross’, ‘trefoil cross’, ‘bontonee cross’ or bottony cross’. [more...] [$]
53.11.—Four Quarters Cross
A cross with a centre divided into four quarters, perhaps representing the four Gospels, the four Evangelists who wrote them, or the four corners of the world. This cross might look well on a map as a compass rose to mark North, South East and West, but make [...] [more...] [$]
53.13.—Floret
A small decorative ornament, wither a printer’s ornament or taken from an illuminated manuscript or carving. [more...] [$]
53.16.—IHS
The monogram IHS comes from the Greek for Jesus, IHESUS, or from the Latin Ihesus Hominum Salvator, which is, Jesus, saviour of Mankind (Jesus was the name of a religious person). A modern interpretation is In His Service. [more...] [$]
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![[picture: Front Cover]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/tn/00-frontcover-q75-500x306.jpg "[picture: Front Cover]")
![[picture: 53.5.---Cross With Unkempt Hair]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img05-gothic-cross-q75-106x200.jpg "[picture: 53.5.---Cross With Unkempt Hair]")
![[picture: 53.6.---Cross with Circle]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img06-fleur-wheel-q75-200x200.jpg "[picture: 53.6.---Cross with Circle]")
![[picture: 53.8.---IHS]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img08-IHS-q75-203x200.jpg "[picture: 53.8.---IHS]")
![[picture: 53.9.---Gothic Cross]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img09-gothic-cross-q75-198x200.jpg "[picture: 53.9.---Gothic Cross]")
![[picture: 53.11.---Four Quarters Cross]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img11-four-quarters-cross-q75-218x200.jpg "[picture: 53.11.---Four Quarters Cross]")
![[picture: 53.12.---Small Bush]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img12-little-bush-q75-175x200.jpg "[picture: 53.12.---Small Bush]")
![[picture: 53.13.---Floret]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img13-floret-q75-156x200.jpg "[picture: 53.13.---Floret]")
![[picture: 53.14.---Acorn]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img14-acorn-q75-105x200.jpg "[picture: 53.14.---Acorn]")
![[picture: 53.15.---Floret]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img15-floret-q75-165x200.jpg "[picture: 53.15.---Floret]")
![[picture: 53.7.---Clubs On Legs]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img07-fleur-130x200.jpg "[picture: 53.7.---Clubs On Legs]")
![[picture: 53.10.---Ornamental vine leaves]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img10-vineleaves-q75-167x200.jpg "[picture: 53.10.---Ornamental vine leaves]")
![[picture: 53.16.---IHS]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img16-IHS-q75-168x200.jpg "[picture: 53.16.---IHS]")
