"This book is the first to present a detailed survey of all book scripts in use in Western and Central Europe from c. 1100 to c. 1530 (with the exception of Humanistic script). This period has been poorly served in almost all other palaeographical handbooks. By adopting a largely new classification of scripts based on objective criteria which incorporates many of the terms currently in use, this book aims to end the confusion which has hitherto obscured the study of late medieval handwriting. It is based upon an examination of a very large number of dated specimens, and is thus the first survey to take full advantage of the incomparable palaeographical resource provided by the Catalogues of Dated Manuscripts. The text is illustrated throughout with over 500 drawings of letters and symbols. Actual-size reproductions of 160 manuscripts provide datable specimens of all the scripts discussed, accompanied by partial transcriptions and palaeographical commentary."--BOOK JACKET.