Sender: Rare book and manuscripts <EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Nardelli's La Lettera e L'Immagine, le Iniziali "Parlanti" nella Tipografia
Italiana (secs. XVI- XVIII) (Olschki, 1991), discusses, with many
illustrations the lovely woodcut initial historiated letters used in
Italian printing especially in the 16th century. "Parlanti" refers to
"talking" initials.
Bernstein, Print Culture and Music in Sixteenth Century Venice, Oxford 2001,
pp. 57-62 has a short discussion of these initials with two pages of
illustration.
Butsch, Handbook of Renaissance Ornament, Dover Books, 1969, contains many
illustrations of German, Swiss, French and Italian 16th century historiated
initial letters.
Harvard, Ornamental Initials: the Woodcut Initial Letters of Christopher
Plantin, a Complet Catalogue (NY 1974) (not seen)
Farley Katz
San Antonio, Texas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald Kerr" <donald.kerr@OTAGO.AC.NZ>
To: <EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 3:53 PM
Subject: [EXLIBRIS-L] initials
Dear Exlibris members
A colleague of mine is preparing an exhibition on Initials and while
sourcing a few articles, books and references, has been disappointed
about what is out there - or not. Of medieval manuscript initials she
has found more; very little on printed woodcut/engraved initials, etc.
Can anyone offer leads? This would be appreciated.
Some of the works she has sourced so far include: Tracy's Letters of
Credit; Illuminating letters (ed. Paul Gutjahr); Kendrick's Animating
the letter; Alexander's The decorated letter.
I hope this meets everyone out there well
Cheers
Donald
**
Dr. Donald Kerr
Special Collections Librarian
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
Phone: (03) 479-8330
Email: donald.kerr@otago.ac.nz
**
Current Exhibition
Linnaeus. Prince of Botanists: His Works & Legacy
6 July to 28 September 2007
**
"I straighten my papers/ I set up a schedule/ My days will be busy/ I
don't have a minute to lose/ I write." - Blaise Cendrars