Monograms & Ciphers

In an age before digital typography, the artful intertwining of two initials into a single symbol was a mark of refined taste. This 1906 guide collects hundreds of working designs for combining letters into monograms and ciphers. The distinction matters: monograms fuse letters into unified emblems; ciphers arrange them with artistic flair while keeping each letter distinct. Here you will find Roman capitals and Gothic scripts, flowing cursive and rustic simpleness, each plate designed as a template for the working artist. Turbayne's principles balance beauty against legibility, showing how ornament can serve function rather than overwhelm. Whether you are a graphic designer seeking historical reference, a bookbinder crafting personalized spines, or a calligrapher hunting inspiration, these plates offer a masterclass in letterform composition. The book captures a moment when personal insignia mattered, when your initials were worth designing rather than defaulting to a font.