Figure 202
Page of Rechten, end Costumen van Antwerpen, Plantin
From a copy in Harvard College Library (facsimile), Google Books (scan)
1582
Plantin also printed books in the Flemish black-letter current at that day. An example of this is the Rechten, ende Costumen van Antwerpen, printed at the expense of that city, in 1582. It is not by any means a “pure” black-letter book, for (as in some sixteenth century English books) roman was used as a display letter to a “norm” of black-letter—exactly reversing our present-day use of black-letter and roman. Its title, preface, and some displayed matter employ italic. A letter quoted in the black-letter “Confirmation of Privileges” is set in roman type; and passages in roman here and there occur. But the txt, which runs to nearly four hundred quarto pages, is composed in a superb Flemish lettre de forme, massive and very fine. Some passages in civilité are interesting, and so are the decorated initials. This book is supplemented by a sort of “order of procedure” for meetings of city officers. Would that “municipal printing” to-day had such dignity!