A history of alphabets from around the world
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A history of alphabets from around the world | |
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The Alphabet and Elements of Lettering by Frederic W. Goudy Chapter 11: Notes on the plates EACH plate shows fifteen forms of one letter of the alphabet, each corresponding form occupying a similar location on every plate, so that a note regarding a form of letter shown in figure 45 on this page will refer to any letter shown in the same position on each of the large plates. Each plate includes a historical note on the letter shown, which the craftsman may find of interest though of no great aid in making variations from the forms given
No.1 A letter from the inscription on the base of the Trajan Column at Rome, cut A.D.14. The stone on which the inscription appears is, within the molding, 3 feet 9 inches high by 9 feet 34 inch long, with lettering in six lines almost filling the free space. The letters in the two upper lines are each about 4 1/2 inches high, those in the next two lines 4 3/8 inches, in the fifth line 4 1/8 inches, and in the last line 3 7/8 inches. The serifs are small and carefully formed, the thin or hair lines about half the thickness of the thick stems. The curves of B, P, and R should be noted. The characters H, J, K, U, W, Y, Z are not present, but forms such as might have been cut are shown in their appropriate places. With the utmost care to retain all the subtleties of form & proportion, these capitals have been drawn by the writer from a photograph of the inscription purchased by him at the British Museum. No finer capitals on which to base new expressions are to be had, and they may be accepted as the root forms of western European lettering. The "Forum" capitals shown in figure II, page 38, were designed by the author in an attempt to render the spirit of the classic lapidary inscriptions. They are the first types ever cast "distinguished by their successful rendering of classic feeling.... The capitals known as Forum are the most beautiful and have been widely used & imitated." [BRUCE ROGERS] "Forum" capitals retain the spirit of the ancient lapidary letter, although comparison with those of the Trajan inscription will show differences in the forms of individual letters. Continue to page 2 |
The Alphabet and Elements of Lettering by Frederic W. Goudy Introduction What Letters Are Letters in General The Development of the Roman Capital Letters Before Printing The National Hands The Development of Gothic The Beginnings of Types The Qualities of Lettering Some Practical Considerations Notes on the Plates |
