Selected from archives of rare publications, the letters and ornaments in this volume represent the best of five centuries of typographic art and design. Included are 60 handsome alphabets, many examples of decorative initials, and a dazzling assortment of scrolls, flourishes, ornaments, ribbons, cartouches, borders, and more that range in origin from the fifteenth through the twentieth centuries.
The book's 145 full-page plates of illustrations encompass a rich variety of styles and approaches to design and a broad array of useful sizes as well. Much of the material is unique and is not available elsewhere, making this splendid collection especially appealing to graphic designers in search of new ways to add fresh touches to their layouts.