#initial letters

Fancy letters for fancy books.

From: Madox, Thomas et al. Firma Burgi, or, An Historical Essay Concerning the Cities, Towns and Buroughs of England : Taken from Records. London: Printed by William Bowyer, and sold by Robert Gosling at the Middle-temple-gate in Fleetstreet, 1726. 

A Poem from Ancient Irish Mythology |

This is an ancient Irish poem attributed to the legendary bard and judge Amergin Glúingel ("white knees"), who, according to myths, arrived in Ireland with the Milesians. In the song, Amergin addresses the wind, sea, earth, and other elements, asserting his connection with them and his power over them.

The poem is a kind of declaration by Amergin of his power over the land of Ireland and a challenge to its previous inhabitants, the Tuatha Dé Danann.

It is considered one of the oldest surviving works from the British Isles and holds great significance in Irish mythology and literature. This poem has many different English translations; this is one of them.

Florentine initials of the Italian Renaissance from ‘Historic Design in Printing’ by Henry Lewis Johnson. Published 1923 by The Graphic Arts Company.

Boston Public Library

Floral initial letters for embroidering onto linen taken from ‘L’ Art Dans la Lingerie Designs de Broderie’ by G. Mesureur.

Publisher Paris : Hennuyer, Imprimeur-Editeur (1896?)

Boston Public Library