Before the invention of the printing press, books were written out by hand, and were priceless objects. The most precious books were illuminated with gold or with bright colours. Initial letters were often highlighted either as decoration or to mark an important passage.

This new colouring book is packed with a series of intricate letters carefully selected from the extensive collection of the British Library. The letters are sourced from medieval charters and seals, historical and literary manuscripts, from Virgil to Chaucer and Royal Statutes to the Book of Psalms.

Each of the original letters is reproduced in colour, so that you can decide whether you prefer to choose your own colours, or to use the colours that the artist intended. With key facts about each of the letters and their source, this is the perfect book for history buffs and colouring-in fans alike.