DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45417#0029
Golden type cut in a larger size.
Next in importance to the type are the initials,
borders, & ornaments designed by William Mor,
ris. The first book contains a single recto border
and twenty different initials. In the next book,
Poems by the Way, the number of different ini/
tials is fifty/nine. These early initials, many of
which were soon discarded, are for the most part
suggestive, like the first border, of the ornament
in Italian manuscripts of the fifteenth century. In
Blunt's Love Lyrics there are seven letters of a
new alphabet, with backgrounds of naturalesque
grapesandvineleaves,theresultof avisitto Beau/
vai s, wh ere the great p o rch es ar e carved with vines,
in August, 1891. From that time onwards fresh
designs were constantly added, the tendency being
always towards larger foliage and lighter back/
grounds, as the early initials were found to be
sometimes too dark for the type. The total num/
ber of initials of various sizes designed for the
Kelmscott Press, including a few that were en/
graved but never used, is three hundred & eighty/
four. Of the letter T alone there are no less than
thirty/four varieties.
The total number of different borders engraved for
the Press, including one that was not used, but ex/
cludingthethreebordersdesignedforTheEarth/
ly Paradise by R. Catterson/Smith, isfifty/seven.
The first book to contain a marginal ornament,
other than these full borders, was The Defence
15
Next in importance to the type are the initials,
borders, & ornaments designed by William Mor,
ris. The first book contains a single recto border
and twenty different initials. In the next book,
Poems by the Way, the number of different ini/
tials is fifty/nine. These early initials, many of
which were soon discarded, are for the most part
suggestive, like the first border, of the ornament
in Italian manuscripts of the fifteenth century. In
Blunt's Love Lyrics there are seven letters of a
new alphabet, with backgrounds of naturalesque
grapesandvineleaves,theresultof avisitto Beau/
vai s, wh ere the great p o rch es ar e carved with vines,
in August, 1891. From that time onwards fresh
designs were constantly added, the tendency being
always towards larger foliage and lighter back/
grounds, as the early initials were found to be
sometimes too dark for the type. The total num/
ber of initials of various sizes designed for the
Kelmscott Press, including a few that were en/
graved but never used, is three hundred & eighty/
four. Of the letter T alone there are no less than
thirty/four varieties.
The total number of different borders engraved for
the Press, including one that was not used, but ex/
cludingthethreebordersdesignedforTheEarth/
ly Paradise by R. Catterson/Smith, isfifty/seven.
The first book to contain a marginal ornament,
other than these full borders, was The Defence
15