The Mac(clesfield)Book – The Designer’s Choice Since 1500

February 5, 2009 • 3:46 pm • POSTED BY ddewolf

Here ye here ye! The world of design hath a new font resource!

A medieval “portfolio”, dubbed “The Macclesfield  Alphabet Book”, was recently uncovered from the library of the Earls of Macclesfield in England, where it had sat on the shelves since 1750. This pattern book  contains not only 14 decorative alphabet styles, but intricately designed borders, initials and script.

Historians believe the book was used for one design/bookbinding house, as both a portfolio of sorts (imagine spilling coffee on this one…) and an apprentice guidebook.

While we may have thousands of fonts available for our clients at the click of a button, I’m sure they would be blown away if we brought something like this into a presentation to use for say, a new mailing piece. “This is the 16th century font we thought would be perfect for the cover…”

*Designers take note: The British Library is in negotiations to purchase this  rare pattern alphabet book for £600,000 (roughly $867,000).  Methinks you could get a pretty farthing for yours too.