Manuscript Pins and Buttons

Two skeletons in a dance holding hands. Blue roses adorn them. Set with a gramophone surrounded by red and black roses. The music manuscript is set as a background.

An illuminated Q from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated O from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated S from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated M from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

Dedication with score of Madame Butterfly and signature. Giacomo Puccini manuscript.

Original score of manuscript by Georg Friedrich Händel.

An illuminated Z from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated I from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated C from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated X from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right. In fact this is the greek letter Chi which forms the Ch sound in Christ.

An illuminated W from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated N from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated V from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated L from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated G from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated K from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated E from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right. There is one curly feature of this one.. Prior to the middle ages there was no difference between Is and Js. Js were introduced at that time. This letter comes from the book of Jonah and was the initial to his name.

An illuminated H from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminate

Letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his brothers Carl and Johann at Heiligenstadt, today part of Vienna, on 6 October 1802

An image from a 15th century Coptic prayer book from Ethiopia pairs nicely with this medieval quote, emphasizing the importance of pictures to those who read and use books.

An illuminated E from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

Original cover of the musical work: The 4 Seasons. Manuscript of Antonio Vivaldi. Design to match the scores and poems of the other pieces of The Four Seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).

An illuminated E from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

Vintage illustration Renaissance Era astrological design featuring an antique celestial Zodiac chart with the 12 signs of the Zodiac and a woman in the center, c1416. The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is a famous French Gothic manuscript illumination showing the late International Gothic phase of the style. It is a book of hours: a collection of prayers to be said at the canonical hours. It was created for the extravagant royal bibliophile and patron John, Duke of Berry, by the Limbourg brothers.

A colour version of a contemporary Celtic design which I produced for an illustration in the book The Real Witches’ Craft published by Thorsons/Element.

New to the Manicules - letter N is for NOPE!

New to the Manicules - letter N is for note!

A beautiful Old World Swallowtail Butterfly rests amidst a backdrop of pretty nasturtiums. A delicately observed, colour saturated, botanically inspired watercolour by designer Patricia Shea.

Original handwritten score of Johann Sebastian Bach | Dominica

New to the Manicules - letter N is for NOPE!

Add a wonderful accent to your room with Geralt of Rivia in his bathtub, in marginalia manuscript-style, to brighten any environment ;)

Luttrell Psalter Marginalia