Early Gothic

Early or Proto-Gothic script is a stage between the clear rounded forms of Carolingian Minuscule and the angular fence-like look of the full-scale Gothic Textura.

This is fol 15v from Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Ashmole 1511, a Bestiary or illustrated encyclopaedia of animals, written in England in the early 13th century.

As usual:

1.....Transcribe it, paying particular attention to the abbreviations.
.......I have transcribed the first two lines for you as a starter.
.......Go to the following pages for a close-up version in slices.
2.....Copy out a line, using pen and ink. What do you notice about the mechanics of writing?
3.....Describe it in terms of
.......A..... Individual letter forms.
.......B..... Overall aspect;
4.....Describe the layout.
5.....In what script are the titles?
6.....Is there any punctuation?


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© MEG TWYCROSS 1999