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![[picture: Book cover, Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.)]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Butsch-RenaissanceOrnament/tn/000-Front-Cover-q75-350x500.jpg "[picture: Book cover, Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.)]")
Engravings from “Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance” (Book-Ornament of the Renaissance) by A. F. Butsch, Leipzig, 1878. Alfred Butsch was a famous bookseller and a collecter of antiquarian books; the engraved plates in the book reproduce illustrations from early printed books.
I bought my copy of this book (actually Volume II hasn’t arrive yet!) from a bookseller in Germany; there is also a fac simile by Dover, but the reproduction is not of the highest quality, so these images are better, if very incomplete.
I also have Volume II.
Title: Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.)
Published by: Verlag von G. Hirth
City: Leipzig
Date: 1878
Total items: 40
Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.
![[picture: 62c.---Initial capital letter ``C'' from Dance of Death Alphabet]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Butsch-RenaissanceOrnament/wm/big/062-hans-holbein-1523-death-letter-c-q75-202x200.jpg "[picture: 62c.---Initial capital letter ``C'' from Dance of Death Alphabet]")
62c.—Initial capital letter “C” from Dance of Death Alphabet
This decorative initial letter “C”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. it features an emperor in the clutches of two skeletons, or Deaths, one of [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: 62t.---Initial capital letter ``T'' from Dance of Death Alphabet.]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Butsch-RenaissanceOrnament/wm/big/062-hans-holbein-1523-death-letter-t-q75-195x200.jpg "[picture: 62t.---Initial capital letter ``T'' from Dance of Death Alphabet.]")
62t.—Initial capital letter “T” from Dance of Death Alphabet.
This decorative initial letter “T”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. The skeleton figures in the alphabet represent death. The letter features a minstrel with his pipe, lying prostrate on the ground, and being dragged away by one Death, whilst another pours [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: 62v.---Initial capital letter ``U'' from Dance of Death Alphabet]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Butsch-RenaissanceOrnament/wm/big/062-hans-holbein-1523-death-letter-v-q75-194x200.jpg "[picture: 62v.---Initial capital letter ``U'' from Dance of Death Alphabet]")
62v.—Initial capital letter “U” from Dance of Death Alphabet
This decorative initial letter “U” or “V”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It shows a man on horseback [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: Ornate border from 1878 Title Page (green/brown version)]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Butsch-RenaissanceOrnament/wm/big/000-title-page-border-green-brown-q75-146x200.jpg "[picture: Ornate border from 1878 Title Page (green/brown version)]")
Ornate border from 1878 Title Page (green/brown version)
This is the ornate decorative border from the title page of this book; it features cherubs or putti (naked boys with wings) holding up giant urns or vases; mermaids and mermen; angels, vines, flowers and leaves, all in one border or frame! Although the border is probably from a medieval/mediaeval or renaissance source, it would of course [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: 62b.---Initial capital letter ``B'' from Dance of Death Alphabet]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Butsch-RenaissanceOrnament/wm/big/062-hans-holbein-1523-death-letter-b-q87-200x200.jpg "[picture: 62b.---Initial capital letter ``B'' from Dance of Death Alphabet]")
62b.—Initial capital letter “B” from Dance of Death Alphabet
This decorative initial letter “B”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It features two skeletons, or death-figures, a dog and a pope. Some commentators say the dog is actually a demon, [...] [more...] [$]
Engravings from “Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance” (Book-Ornament of the Renaissance) by A. F. Butsch, Leipzig, 1878. Alfred Butsch was a famous bookseller and a collecter of antiquarian books; the engraved plates in the book reproduce illustrations from early printed books.
I bought my copy of this book (actually Volume II hasn’t arrive yet!) from a bookseller in Germany; there is also a fac simile by Dover, but the reproduction is not of the highest quality, so these images are better, if very incomplete.
I also have Volume II.
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