Publisher's description:
The ancient art of illuminating manuscripts is currently attracting many new enthusiasts among artists, art students, and lovers of calligraphy. The Bible of Illuminated Letters is a volume they'll all want to add to their collections. It presents step-by-step instructions for recreating twelve illuminated alphabets. Among them are Celtic, Saxon, Gothic, Romanesque, Modern Revival, and seven more, including several modern scripts. Detailed diagrams instruct on creating upper- and lower-case letters, as well as on ways for designing borders and decorations. More ambitious students can also follow clear directions for gilding—decorating with gold leaf—as was originally done in medieval European monasteries. Readers and students of illumination who open this book will find:
- A history of illumination
- Required tools, techniques, and materials for illuminating
- Instruction in layout and design
- Steps to follow in order to create 12 alphabet styles
This beautiful book also features a picture gallery of outstanding historical and contemporary illuminated letters, as well as a glossary and index. More than 400 inspiring color illustrations in total.

From the back cover:
Illumination - the creation of elaborate, decorated letters and initials - reached its apogee in the monasteries of medieval Europe. Embellished with gold leaf, the illuminated letters of those early scribes seemed to reflect light, as though they were indeed "illuminated". This traditional art is now attracting new enthusiasts.
The Bible of Illuminated Letters presents step-by-step instructions for recreating illuminated alphabets from six historical periods, including Celtic, Gothic, and Romanesque. Diagrams for upper- and lower-case letters are accompanied by ideas for borders and decorations, and full instructions for gilding.
Each section also explores ways in which the illuminated letters can be adapted to create a truly personal style, while a gallery of modern examples will inspire further creativity.

Contents:
page 8 Foreword by Rosemary Buczek
10 Introduction
12 How to Use This Book
14 Chapter 1. TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
16 Tools and Materials
18 Your Workstation
20 Paper
24 Vellum and Parchment
26 Preparing vellum
28 Stretching vellum
34 Brushes
36 Pens
38 Pencils
40 Paints
40 Gouache
42 Watercolors
44 Egg tempera
48 Inks
50 Gilding
52 Flat gilding
54 Raised and burnished gold
61 Shell gold
62 Metallic gouache and bronze powders
64 Chapter 2. PREPARING THE WORK
66 Layout and Design
74 Color
78 Transferring Designs to Paper
81 Using Illumination and Decoration
74 Chapter 3. ALPHABET DIRECTORY
86 Celtic
88 History
92 Step-by-step demonstration
96 Decorated capitals and numbers
104 Insular half uncial hand and variations
108 Borders and motifs
110 Ottonian
112 History
116 Step-by-step demonstration
120 Decorated capitals and numbers
128 Carolingian hand and variations
131 Versals and numbers
132 Borders and motifs
136 Romanesque
138 History
142 Step-by-step demonstration
146 Decorated capitals and numbers
154 Foundational hand and variations
158 Borders and motifs
162 Gothic
164 History
168 Step-by-step demonstration
172 Decorated capitals and numbers
180 Gothic hand and variations
184 Borders and motifs
186 Renaissance: White Vine
188 History
192 Step-by-step demonstration
196 Decorated capitals and numbers
204 Humanist hand and variations
208 Borders and motifs
210 Renaissance: Neo-Classical
212 History
216 Step-by-step demonstration
220 Decorated capitals and numbers
228 Italic hand and variations
232 Borders and motifs
236 Chapter 4. CONTEMPORARY GALLERY
248 Glossary
250 Resources
251 Calligraphy Societies
252 Further Reading
253 Index
256 Acknowledgments