Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (page 1/10)

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[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

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.

Some sample images

[picture: 53.11.---Four Quarters Cross]

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...]

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[picture: Decorative initial letter ``A'' from 16th Century]

Decorative initial letter “A” from 16th Century

This floriated ornamental capital “a” in white on black is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial. It is taken from a sixteenth-century alphabet in white on black. [more...]

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[picture: 53.10.---Ornamental vine leaves]

53.10.—Ornamental vine leaves

A vine-leaf that might be used as a printer’s ornament or fleuron. [more...]

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[picture: Decorative initial letter ``Z'' from 16th Century]

Decorative initial letter “Z” from 16th Century

This ornamental capital “Z” in white on black is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial. It is taken from a sixteenth-century alphabet in white on black. [more...]

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[picture: 53.2.---IHS Monogram]

53.2.—IHS Monogram

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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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.


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