LETTERS &
LETTERING

A TREATISE WITH 200 EXAMPLES

FRANK CHOUTEAU BROWN

BOSTON

BATES & GUILD COMPANY

MCMXXI

Copyright, 1921, by
BATES & GUILD COMPANY

Printed by
PERRY & ELLIOTT CO
LYNN BOSTON

Printed in the U. S. A.

NOTE

This book is intended for those who have felt the need of a varied collection of alphabets of standard forms, arranged for convenient use.

The alphabets illustrated, while primarily intended to exhibit the letter shapes, have in most cases been so arranged as to show also how the letters compose into words, except in those instances where they are intended to be used only as initials. The application of classic and medieval letters to modern usages has been, as far as possible, suggested by showing modern designs in which similar forms are employed.

In view of the practical aim of this treatise it has been deemed advisable to include a larger number of illustrative examples rather than to devote space to the historical evolution of the letter forms.

To the artists, American and European, who have so kindly furnished him with drawings of their characteristic letters—and without whose cordial assistance this book would hardly have been possible—to the master-printers who have allowed him to show types specially designed for them, and to the publishers who have given him permission to borrow from their books and magazines, the author wishes to express his sincere obligations.

F. C. B.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1 and 2 Alphabet after Sebastian Serlio (1473-1554). Reconstructed by Albert R. Ross.

3 Width Proportions of Modern Roman Capitals. F. C. B.

4 Drawing for Incised Roman Capitals. For cutting in granite. Letter forms based upon those shown in figures 1 and 2. F. C. B.

5 Photograph of Incised Roman Capitals. Cut in granite from drawing shown in figure 4

6 Incised Roman Capitals. From the Arch of Constantine, Rome. 315 A.D. From a photograph

7 Model for Incised Roman Capitals. Used for inscriptions cut in granite on Boston Public Library. McKim, Mead & White, Architects. Photographed from a cast

8 Roman Incised Capitals. From fragments in marble. National Museum, Naples. Rubbing

9 Roman Incised Inscription. Museo Civico, Bologna. From a photograph

10 Roman Incised Inscription. Museo Civico, Bologna. From a photograph

11 Detail from a Roman Incised Inscription. Showing composition. Redrawn from a rubbing. F. C. B.

12 "Rustic" Roman Capitals. Of pen forms, but cut in stone. Redrawn from a rubbing. From fragment in the National Museum, Naples. F. C. B.

13 Roman Capitals from Fragments of Inscriptions. Showing various characteristic letter forms. Redrawn from rubbings. F. C. B.

14 Modern Roman Incised Capitals. Executed in sandstone. From the Harvard Architectural Building, Cambridge, Mass. McKim, Mead & White, Architects

15 Letters Shown in Alphabet 1 and 2, in Composition. By Albert R. Ross

16 and 17 Classic Roman Capitals. Cut in marble. Redrawn from rubbings made in the Forum, Rome. F. C. B.-21

18 and 19 Classic Roman Capitals. Late period. Cut in marble. Redrawn from rubbings. F. C. B.

20 Portion of Roman Inscription. With supplied letters. Redrawn from a rubbing. F. C. B.

21 Classic Roman Inscription. Incised in marble. Redrawn from a rubbing. F. C. B.

22 Classic Roman Inscription. In stone. Redrawn from a rubbing. F. C. B.

23 Italian Renaissance Inscription. Square-sunk in marble. From a photograph of a mortuary slab

24 Italian Renaissance Medal. By