Illuminated letters

The first productions of the printing press contained no capital letters at the commencement of sentences or proper names of men and places, blanks were left for the titles, initial letters, and other ornaments, in order to have them supplied by the illuminators, whose ingenious art, though in vogue before and at that time, did not long survive the masterly improvements made by the printers in this branch of their art. Those ornaments were exquisitely fine and curiously variegated with the mosl beautiful colours, and even with gold and silver: the margins, likewise, were frequently charged with a variety of figures of saints, birds, beasts, monsters, flowers, &c., which had sometimes relation to the contents of the page, though often none at all. These embellishments were very costly, but for those who could not afford a great price, there were more interior ornaments which could be done at a much easier rate. The art of illumination has recently been revived, but less as a profession than as an elegant pastime for ainateura of art. Illuminated letters, of the most elegant and variegated designs, are now sold by the English typefounders to supersede these costly ornaments.