John Scottowe
"Calligraphic Alphabet" (1592)
Newberry Library (Wing MS ZW 545 .S431)
View close-up of the entire alphabet

Calligraphic manuals such as this work by John Scottowe (circa 1545-1607) helped their owners to master elegant handwriting and also imparted moral instruction. This is one of two complete manuscripts displaying Scottowe's elegant style, which hearkens back to Burgundian manuscripts of the late fifteenth century. Scottowe honors the Queen by decorating this page with a capital "Q," followed by her official titles.

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