Title
Leaf from Maximilian I and Melchior Pfintzing. Theuerdank.
Coverage
Augsburg:
Publisher
Johann Schönsperger,
Date
1517.
Subject
Gift of Don Fry.
Description
The bespoke metal type used to print Theuerdank is the oldest, and perhaps the most beautiful and elaborate, manifestation of the Fraktur typeface. Fraktur was derived from a calligraphic script; it belongs to the blackletter family of letterforms commonly used in the German speaking regions of Europe. The large assortment of swashes recalls the flourishes of manuscript calligraphy. In this case, they were achieved by using additional, special sorts of type that could extend the descenders of individual letters.
Source
From the collection of Rare Book School