september 2011 update - John Neal, Bookseller

hebrew
B2255. The Book of Hebrew Script:
History, Paleography, Script Styles,
Calligraphy and Design by Ada
Yardeni. 1997. 364pp. 8.5"x12".
Hardcover $69.95. JNB Price $67.50
A comprehensive work by a noted
paleographer, graphic artist and
type designer. Covers history of the
alphabet and the birth of the Hebrew script, Hebrew
script in early manuscripts, printed Hebrew script, and
Hebrew paleography. A series of alphabet charts follow
on the various hands. The final section is on Hebrew
calligraphy with techniques and exemplar alphabets.
Originally published in Hebrew. Now available in
English. 290 illustrations.
B1619. Hebrew Calligraphy Styles
by Gina Jonas. 1996. Second edition.
24pp. 5.25"x 8.25". Paper $16.00
Instructional manual. Covers
Sephardi, Ashkenazi, Ancient, &
Mizrachi. Exemplar, ductus & notes
on construction given for each style.
illumination
See page 23 for Illumination Instructional Books.
B2954. Beasts: Factual and
Fantastic by Elizabeth Morrison.
2007. 112pp. 7"x9".
Hardcover $19.95
A wonderful book full of sharply
printed large details from manuscripts
in the Getty collection.
The animals are from a variety
of medieval & Renaissance manuscripts and are both
painted and pen drawn forms. The animals are always
shown as part of the page of the manuscript, usually
as a detail, sometimes as part of an illuminated initial,
sometimes as part of the whole page. Provides a brief
background on the animal and the manuscript.
B3170. Faces of Power and Piety
by Eric Inglis. 2008. 96pp. 7" x 9".
Hardcover $19.95
Presents enlarged details showing
the faces from manuscripts.
The illuminatior’s work included
painting both historical figures
and celebrated contemporaries,
emphasizing qualities such as power and piety. During
the Renaissance, actual likeness became a concern.
Modern illuminators can use these vivid portraits to
help “get the faces right.”
B3234. Building the Medieval
World by Christine Sciacca.
2010. 104pp. 7"x9". $19.95
Illustrates the creative ways in
which medieval artists represented
architecture, including
soaring cathedrals and grand
castles & palaces. Provides insight
into what these buildings meant for medieval
people. Such structures were not just made to be
inhabited - they symbolized grandeur, power, and
even heaven on earth. 102 color illustrations.
B3138. Choirs of Angels: Painting
in Italian Choir Books, 1300-1500
by Barbara Drake Boehm. 2008.
67pp. 8.5"x11". Paper $19.95
Using stunning reproductions
from the nearly 40 examples in
Metropolitan Museum’s collection
of illuminations and pages from
Italian choral manuscripts, this book discusses music
in the church, musical notation, types of musical
manuscripts, illumination of choir books, and the illuminated
letters from Gothic and Renaissance masters.
Many of the initial letters are reproduced quarter-page
size or larger and are filled with crisp detail. A great
visual resource.
B2996. Introduction to Manuscript
Studies by R. Clemens & Timothy
Graham 2007. 352pp. 9"x12". Paper
$39.95
This very readable volume provides
calligraphers, illuminators and others
a comprehensive orientation into the
larger field of medieval manuscript studies. Part 1:
“Making the Medieval Manuscript” covers the prep of
the writing surface through copying the text, rubrication,
decoration, glossing, and annotation through to
binding and storage. Part 2: “Reading the Medieval
Manuscript” focuses on the study of manuscripts,
with chapters on transcribing and editing; assessing
evidence for origin, provenance; and describing/cataloguing.
The third part, “Some Manuscript Genres”,
discusses Bibles and biblical concordances, liturgical
service books, Books of Hours, charters and cartularies,
maps, and scrolls. Extensive glossary.
lettercutting
Available again!
B2526. Letter Cutting in Stone
by Richard Grasby. Revised ed.
2002. 160pp. 8.25"x11.75". b/w
illust. Paper $45.00
A thorough, practical manual
on cutting letters in stone. Includes tools, workspace &
equipment, cutting exercises and practice strokes, cutting
letters in stone, carving raised letters, design, and
siting. Highly recommended. Full of illustrations.
B2610. Letters Slate Cut: Workshop Practice & the
Shaping of Letters by David Kindersley & Lida Lopes
Cardozo. Second Edition. 1990. 7.5"x10". Paper $35.00
A practical instructional manual plus a gallery of
57 of David Kindersley and Lida Lopes Cardozo’s
letter carvings. A "sequel" to the original 1981 edition.
Thirty of the pieces in the gallery were not in the
earlier edition. Color cover, b&w interior.
B2914. The Art of Letter Carving
in Stone by Tom Perkins. 2006.
192pp. 8.5" x 11". Hardcover $50.00
For the beginning and the more
experienced lettercutter, this how-to
manual first covers the basics of
letter carving, drawn lettering, and
making simple designs in stone. It
includes the development of 20th-century letter carving;
tools, materials, stone, making an easel; drawing a
range of alphabets for use in letter carving; inscriptions,
gilding, and painting letters; detailed instructions
for V-incising the keystrokes of letters; designing
headstones & plaques. Gallery of contemporary work.
380 color photos and diagrams.
28 ❧ t o l l f r e e: 800-369-9598 v w e b : www.j o h n n e a l b o o k s.com