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Galleries: index · 
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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: 53.20.---Three-leaved ornament]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img20-triflorum-q75-213x200.jpg "[picture: 53.20.---Three-leaved ornament]")
![[picture: Vintage ornate border]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/000-Front-Cover-detail-border-q34-319x200.jpg "[picture: Vintage ornate border]")
A Victorian border taken from the book cover of this vintage book of alphabets and lettering. [more...] [$]
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``H'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-h-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``H'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “H” from 16th Century
This capital “H” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and shows an archer, or more likely a jester or actor with a mask. [more...] [$]
![[picture: 53.31.---thistle decoration or page element.]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/53-Monograms,Crosses-etc.-img31-thistle-q100-187x200.jpg "[picture: 53.31.---thistle decoration or page element.]")
53.31.—thistle decoration or page element.
A small thistle emblem used as a decorative page element or ornament. [more...] [$]
![[picture: Decorative initial letter ``L'' from 16th Century]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/DelamotteOrnamentalAlphabets/wm/big/051-16th-Century-letter-l-q85-187x200.jpg "[picture: Decorative initial letter ``L'' from 16th Century]")
Decorative initial letter “L” from 16th Century
This capital “L” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and features a painter licking a brush, or perhaps a claw-footed demon eating a chicken drumstick while watching a movie, while overhead, a flying bird-fish devours a plant. [more...] [$]
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