The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives

form, but it exhibits a more curved and supple
outline, which comes of natural pen-strokes (fig.
167).

AFG1J
KLM S

РЖІ

2 udt-upfpen Capitals (see also
T¡g-15l 158.159 -УЫтг tiM 0.

Fig. 167.

The remarks in Chapter VII. on the treatment
of the more elastic “Gothic” Versal (a free variety

260

of the Roman) may be taken as applying generally
to (Coloured) Built-up Capitals — due allowance
being made for the characteristic differences of the
various types.

SIMPLE-WRITTEN CAPITALS

“ Rustic Capitals11 (fig. 4) may be referred to here
as typical, simple-written capitals. Though not a
very practical form,1 they are full of suggestions for
a semi-ornamental lettering in which the pronounced
treatment of the heads and feet might be a feature
(comp. fig. 203). They were used as ornamental
letters for titles and the like (see Plates VIII, IX,
&c.) for centuries after they had gone out of ordinary
use.

Simple - written Roman Capitals. — (Examples:
Plates III, XVIII, XIX, XXI, figs. 147, 148,
168,175,179. See also pp. 211, 415.)

Uncials.—(Examples : see p. 264.)

Simple - written Capitals ordinarily conform to
the writing line—as set by the small text (p. 48).
This applies even where several words in capitals
have to be inserted in the small text, though in
special cases where these might look too crowded
such capitale might be written on alternate lines.

Used for Initial Words, headings, whole pages, or
books, in black or colour, they are written with
greater freedom and accorded more special treatment
(as indicated below).

Simple-written Capitals are best composed of
sharp, clean, pen-strokes: they may be quite plain

1 Their thin stems and heavy branches may tend to weakness
and illegibility—e.g. such letters as E, F, I, L, and T (see
fig. 4) are not always easily distinguishable.

261

The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives