The Roman ordinary writing-pen, or rather narrower, gives a
Alphabet good proportion for initials, &c. (see pp. 84, 184).

& its
Derivatives

{Proportion
ofwidàìof
mb to size,
of ietterr'
Narrow-
В road:
^Medium:

Fig. 165.

In MS. books the early built-up Capitals were
commonly of a rather severe type—approaching
the Roman Capital, but having the sharp contrast
between the thicks and the thins characteristic of
pen-letters (fig. 166). They make very simple and

effective “Versals.”

A more highly finished type of pen-made Roman
Capital may be made by blending the serifi. and
stems (d, p. 253): it is nearer to the inscriptional

258

Ух

H

Vj№-

IS

P®!

«

259

The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives