Script Type : minuscule
Date : 12th to 15th centuries, this small compressed form coming into use in the 13th century.
Location : Spread from France and the Low Countries across western Europe. This example is from England.
Function : Book hand
Distinctive letters : The letters in this script are tiny and compressed, with the bases of letters finished with a simple diagonal slash rather than formally constructed feet. Although the letters appear joined, this not not make it a cursive script. The letters are individually formed, but are simply squashed together.
The basic letter forms are standard for Gothic textura. The letters i and j are the same. The letter i is dotted, or rather there is a narrow diagonal slash above the letter. The letters u and v are identical, and can be difficult to differentiate from n, as they are all formed from minims. It can be difficult to differentiate c and t.
There are two forms of r, including the simplified form that occurs after o, and two forms of s, the short curly form and the tall form. A second form of d which occurs at the beginning of words has an almost horizontal ascender.
There are no examples of k, w, y or z.
There are many abbreviations in the text. Pass the cursor slowly along the rows of text to decode a sample. For a more detailed examination, continue to the paleography exercises for this example. You will discover some astonishing things about elephants.
Script
Index Paleography
exercises using Flash
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