Manuscript book-sheet and from the top edge, which is cut at
Books right angles to the fold.

Regular Writing.—In writing one page it is a
good plan to have its fellow page, or a similarly
written one, fixed on the desk beside it as a pattern.
This will save the beginner from a very common
error—writing larger or smaller (which of course
spoils the look of the pages).

Initial Page.—The text of a book commonly
begins on a recto, or right hand, page (see p. 329)-

CHAPTER VII

VERSAL LETTERS & COLOURED CAPITALS

Development of Versals—General Analysis of Versals—
Notes on Construction of Versals—Spacing &
Arrangement of Versals.

DEVELOPMENT OF VERSALS

Versal The earliest books consisted of a number of lines

Letters & of continuous writing in capital letters. There were

Coloured seldom any divisions of the text—into paragraphs,

Capitals chapters, or the like—or even of one word from

another ; nor were important words distinguished by
larger initials. The first division of paragraphs was
made by a slight break in the text and a mark; later,
the first letter of the first complete line of the new
paragraph was placed in the margin and written
larger. When “small-letters” were evolved, capitals
ceased to be used for the body of the text, and
became distinguishing letters for headings and impor¬
tant words.

78

The capitals written at the beginnings of books,
chapters, and paragraphs grew larger and more orna¬
mental, and at length were made in colour and
decorated with pen flourishes. Such letters, used to
mark the beginnings of verses, paragraphs, &c.,
have been called “Versals.”1

In modern printing and ordinary writing the first
line of a paragraph is generally indented (a, fig. 78),

P

a.,

«P

b.

c.

Fig. 78.

but the earlier method of employing a special mark
or letter (b or c) is more effective, and it might very
well be used, even in modern printed books, for
fine editions. Affording a legitimate opening for
illumination and book-ornament, it was (and is) the
natural method for the penman, who, starting with
these useful capitals, by flourishing them—in their

1 Though Versals may generally he regarded as paragraph
marking Utters, it is convenient to apply the term to the Versal
type of letter (the early Illumifiator's Pen-capital)—e.g. “ a head¬
ing in Versal letters" (see fig. 91).

79

Versal
Letters &
Coloured
Capitals