The document describes three forms of Gothic script: Gothic Textura Quadrata, Gothic Textura Prescisus, and Gothic bastarda. Gothic Textura Quadrata was used in the 13th century and is characterized by angled letter feet, words woven together through conjoining letters and shared vertical strokes, and straight bows without curves. It uses capital letters at the start of sentences that extend into margins. Common ligatures include "st", "de", and "be". Punctuation was used syntactically and included punctus flexus and punctus elevatus. Gothic Textura Prescisus is similar but without feet, giving it a stubbier appearance. Gothic bastarda was a transition between formal letter

1. Gothic Textura Quadrata
and
Gothic Textura Prescisus
and
Gothic bastarda
Three forms of gothic writing

2. Quadrata: Characteristics of the script
Aka Black Letter Gothic
Aka high gothic
13th century
Angled feet on letters
Words woven together
Conjoining letters
Shared vertical strokes
Equally spaced vertical strokes
Straight bows (no curves)

3. Quadrata: Use of capital letters
Capitals used to
accentuate beginnings of
sentences
Colored
Spaces inside colored
Exaggerated form
Extends into margins
Easy to identify as letter

4. Quadrata: Ligatures
Conjoining letters
Shares bows
Shares vertical stroke
Common “st”
“de”
“be”
e and letters that follow

5. Quadrata: Punctuation
Used syntactically in text
Punctus flexus
(punctus and comma)
Punctus elevatus
(punctus with vertical
stroke beneath)
Dashes at ends of lines
Punctus on baseline

6. Quadrata vs. Prescisus
Quadrata exhibits “feet”
Serif strokes exaggerate
Prescisus exhibits no “feet”
Prescisus stubby appearance
“vel sine Pedibus” means
“without feet” in Latin
Therefore, no finials

7. Littera Bastarda:
characteristics of the script
Transition between “letter
of form” and cursive
Less time intensive
more rounded than
Textura
Exaggerated strokes
Slight right slant
Pointed descenders
Long “s”s sand “f”s

8. Littera Bastarda:
conjoins
Emphasis on speed
Cursive qualities
Bows shared
Exhibits apponatur
(pp will share stroke)

9. Littera Bastarda:
ascenders & decsenders
Slanted to the right
Heavy and distinctive “f”
and “s”
Tapered points
Exaggerated ascenders
Exaggerated descenders
Bent appearance

10. Littera Bastarda:
Puncutation
Punctus elevatus
And
Simple punctus
Dashes indicate line end
Punctuation assisted by
distinct capitals at
beginning of sentences.

11. Littera Bastarda:
Ligatures
“s” and “t”s touch
(sustinui)
Lots of ligatures for
characters with
exaggerated and
overextended ascenders
and descenders.

12. Littera Bastarda:
cadels
The decorative extension
of ascending or
descending stroke is
known as a cadel or
“something extra”
This decorative flourish
elaborates on the
penstrokes of letters at the
beginning of the line