Outlands Scribes Handbook
Appendix 5 : Recommended Books
The following list is not intended to be exhaustive; every scribe and illuminator has his own favorites.
Techniques of Calligraphy and Illumination
Bain, George. Celtic Art, the Methods of Construction. New York: Dover, 1973.
Standard how-to book on Celtic knotwork.
Society of Scribes and Illuminators. The Calligrapher's Handbook. Ed. Heather Child. New York:Taplinger, 1985.
Discussions on everything from papers & pens to quills and gold leaf.
Douglas, Ralph. Calligraphic Lettering with Wide Pen and Brush. New York: Watson-Guptill, 1980.
This is a good book for calligraphy instruction, particularly because it is spiral-bound and opens flat. Good for letter forms.
Drogin, Marc. Medieval Calligraphy, Its History and Technique. Montclair, NJ: Allanheld & Schram, 1980.
Excellent for lettering techniques and history, this has since been reprinted by Dover.
Grafe, Joyce. Secreta, Three Methods of Laying Gold Leaf. New York: Taplinger, 1985.
This includes gilding on Acrylic, Ammoniac, and traditional slaked plaster/white lead gesso.
Johnston, Edward. Writing & Illuminating, & Lettering. New York: Taplinger, 1977.
Pen cutting, working techniques, versals, gilding.
Johnston, Edward. Formal Penmanship and Other Papers. Ed. Heather Child. New York: Taplinger, 1971.
Lynskey, Marie. Illumination for Calligraphers: The Complete Guide for the Ambitious Calligrapher. Wellingborough, Northhamptonshire, England: Thorsons Publishers, 1990.
An excellent guide to illumination, covering many aspects from simple to complex. Covers lettering,painting, gold leaf, preparation of vellum, etc.
Nesbitt, Alexander. The History and Technique of Lettering. New York: Dover, 1957.
A good history of letter forms with examples.
Noad, Timothy & Patricia Seligman. The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Guide to Creating Decorative Calligraphy. Philadelphia: Running Press Book Publishers, 1994.
A very useful book combining calligraphy and illuminations into different projects based on different historical styles. Covers many techniques of calligraphy, painting, and gold leaf. Photographs of projects in various stages of completion are very helpful. Great for all levels.
Trudgill, Anne. Traditional Penmanship. New York: Watson-Guptill, 1988.
This book includes topics from setting up your work area to gilding. It includes traditional letter
forms and modern variants.
"Crossed Quills". Ed. Julie Watkins. Urbana, IL: Folump Ent..
This periodical is published several times a year. Collected, it is a great resource for border ideas, scroll layout, versals, and scripts.
History of Calligraphy and Illumination
Anfuso, Linda (Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive). A Palette of Period Pigments, Compleat Anachronist series, #43. Milpitas, California: Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., 1989.
Written by an illuminator, this pamphlet is packed with information on what pigments were used in the Middle Ages, where to get them today, and how to use them.
Cennino d'Andrea Cennini. The Craftsman's Handbook (Il Libro dell'Arte). Translated by Daniel V. Thompson, Jr. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1960.
A translation of a period treatise on several different arts, including varnishing, working with cloth, mosaics, and casting, as well as illumination. Good information on pigments.
de Hamel, Christopher.Scribes and Illuminators. (Medieval Craftsmen series). Toronto, Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, 1992.
Many colored photos, some of unusual subjects. Thoroughly covers materials used in period, an excellent reference, despite its small size.
Lehmann-Haupt, Hellmut. The Gottingen Model Book. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. 1978.
This facsimile of a fifteenth century German model book gives us a medieval master's instructions for illumination and making inks and paints. [out of print]
Thompson, Daniel V. The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1956.
Includes instructions for using many pigments, for panel painting as well as illumination.
Thompson, Jack C. Manuscript Inks, being a personal exploration of the materials and modes of production. Portland, Oregon: The Caber Press, 1996.
In addition to personal experiences, the author includes recipes and instructions for making ink, as well as a transcription of an artist's manual written in 1596.
Trump, Robert W. A Brief Encyclopedia of the Materials and Techniques of Manuscript Illumination in Europe before 1650 AD. The Potboiler Press, 1989.
With its alphabetically-arranged entries, this pamphlet is especially helpful when you come across in another book an unfamiliar term that the author doesn't bother defining. [paper pamphlet]
Weaver, Pat (Merewyn Sigrudsdottir). A Critical History of Illumination in Gaul and France, Compleat Anachronist series, #10. Milpitas, California: Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., 1984.
The main article is rather dry. The final article, on Parisian workshops, is unusual and interesting; it describes the working environment of medieval scribes and illuminators, which is mirrored by Society scribes today.
Medieval Manuscripts Available in Facsimiles
The Book of Kells; Reproductions from the Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin.
With a Study of the Manuscript by Francoise Henry. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1988
The Hours of Catherine of Cleves.
Introduction and Commentaries by John Plummer. New York: George Braziller, 1966.
The Isabella Breviary.
Text by Janet Backhouse. London: The British Library Board, 1993.
The Lindisfarne Gospels.
Text by Janet Backhouse. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1981. $14.95.
The Luttrell Psalter.
Text by Janet Backhouse. New York: New Amsterdam Books, 1990.
The Manessa Codex: Die Minnesinger in Bildern der Manessischen Handschrift. Germany.
The Master of Mary of Burgundy.
Introduction and Legends by J.J.G. Alexander. New York: George Braziller, 1970. $25.00
Medieval Health Handbook (Tacuinum Sanitatis).
Text by Luisa Cogliati Arano. Translated and adapted by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook. New
York: George Braziller, 1976.
Old Testament Miniatures, A Medieval Picture Book with 283 Paintings from The Creation to The Story of David. (Manuscript known as The Maciejowski Bible.) Introduction and Legends by Sydney C.
Cockerell. New York: George Braziller, 1975.
Prayerbook of Michelino da Besozzo.
Legends by Patricia Corbett and Colin Eisler. New York: George Braziller, 1981.
The Sforza Hours.
Text by Mark Evans. New York: New Amsterdam Books, 1992.
The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry.
Introduction and Legends by Jean Longnon and Raymond Cazelles. Secaucus, NJ: The Wellfleet Press.
Collections of Illuminated Manuscripts
Backhouse, Janet. The Illuminated Page: Ten Centuries of Manuscript Painting in the British Library. London: The British Library, 1997.
A book sure to inspire, it has many photos of manuscripts from all over the world dating from the seventh through the sixteenth centuries.
Bologna, Giulia. Illuminated Manuscripts: The Book Before Gutenberg. Avenel, New Jersey: Crescent Books, 1995.
A nice collection with many color plates covering manuscripts from the fifth century through the sixteenth.
The J. Paul Getty Museum. Masterpieces of the J. Paul Getty Museum: Illuminated Manuscripts. Los Angeles: The J. Paul Getty Museum, 1997.
Beautiful photos of the museum�s manuscripts. From the tenth through sixteenth centuries.
Wilson, Elizabeth B. Bibles and Bestiaries; A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts. New York: Pierpont Morgan Library, 1994.
The color plates are beautiful. The text is informative, thorough, and very readable.
Other Useful Books
Mayer, Ralph. The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques. New York: Viking, 1981.
This is an excellent reference for techniques, their history, permanence of materials, etc.. It is aimed primarily at painters.