H. R. PLOMER

London

Xmas 1923

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGE
The Genesis of Printers’ Ornaments[1]
CHAPTER II
English Printers and their Ornaments[15]
CHAPTER III
Borders[31]
CHAPTER IV
Head and Tail Pieces—Small Ornaments[53]
CHAPTER V
Head and Tail Pieces—Decorative Blocks[65]
CHAPTER VI
Miscellaneous Ornaments[81]
CHAPTER VII
Initial Letters and Factotums[87]
CHAPTER VIII
Modern Work[101]
ILLUSTRATIONS
Descriptive Catalogue[119]
Borders[149]
Head-pieces[191]
Tail-pieces[211]
Ornaments[229]
Initials[239]
Modern Work[249]
INDEX[287]

THE GENESIS OF
PRINTERS’ ORNAMENTS

Referring to the books printed in Venice by Erhard Ratdolt in the years 1476 and 1477, Mr G. R. Redgrave writes: “They are plentifully enriched with initial letters, sometimes printed in red ink, and they have all of them the gracefully designed title-borders for which the books of Ratdolt are so deservedly famous.”

Erhard Ratdolt and His Work at Venice, p. 13
(Bibliographical Society’s Monograph, No. 1).

“The typography and illustrations of Vérard’s books, though justly celebrated, are distinctly inferior to the best productions of certain Parisian printers—for instance Jean Dupré; but in one respect he is without a rival—in the sumptuous illuminated copies on vellum produced for his royal and other distinguished patrons.”