Manuscript Decoration

Plimpton MS 296 from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University (part of the Digital Scriptorium).

This Spanish parchment manual for calligraphers/copyists was made between 1500 and 1515. Unfortunately, that is all the information available. Twelve of the thirty one pages have been digitised (eleven are shown above).

While looking around fruitlessly for further information, I came across a site put together by the Department of Medieval Studies at Central European University in Budapest - Medieval Manuscript Manual (available in four languages). It's a basic overview of manuscript production (types, techniques, inks, typology etc) aimed at a non-professional audience and includes a useful glossary.