Celtic Design: Illuminated Letters

This book gives the history and traces the development of Celtic illuminated letters, then surveys the illuminated capitals, in chronological order, from the Book of Durrow through to the Book of Kells, pulling out all the illuminated letters of the alphabet from the Book of Kells, as redrawn in black-and-white, pen-and-ink facsimiles. The book gives sources for all the historical models, and a bibliography of the books from which the author drew them. The book itself is a hand-written manuscript, written in several hands - foundational bookhand for the main text, captions in chancery italic, and heading in Irish half-uncial, as interpreted by the author, with occasional ornamental capitals. The facsimile reproductions are stunningly interpreted, the book is finely printed on good quality paper, hand stitched in single signatures, the first edition is a highly collectible item, nolonger in print except as part of the omnibus Celtic Design Book. ( )

Haven't read this yet but it looks exciting and well researched. Shows some how-tos but is also a survey on types of letters and their use in insular manuscripts. ( )