_The Top Margins_ throughout the book are kept quite level. Any irregularity at the top of a page catches the eye at once, while slight differences at the side, or considerable differences at the foot, may occur without spoiling the appearance of the margins. All measurements for marginal and writing lines, &c., are therefore made from the [p112] _fold_ of the book-sheet and from the top edge, which is cut at right angles to the fold.
_Regular Writing._--In writing one page it is a good plan to have its fellow page, or a similarly written one, fixed on the desk beside it as a pattern. This will save the beginner from a very common error--writing larger or smaller (which of course spoils the look of the pages).
_Initial Page._--The text of a book commonly begins on a _recto_, or right hand, page (see p. 365).
CHAPTER VII VERSAL LETTERS & COLOURED CAPITALS
Development of Versals -- General Analysis of Versals -- Notes on Construction of Versals -- Spacing & Arrangement of Versals.
The earliest books consisted of a number of lines of continuous writing in capital letters. There were seldom any divisions of the text--into paragraphs, chapters, or the like--or even of one word from another; nor were important words distinguished by larger initials. The first division of paragraphs was made by a slight break in the text and a mark; later, the first letter of the first complete line of the new paragraph was placed in the margin and written larger. When "small-letters" were evolved, capitals ceased to be used for the body of the text, and became distinguishing letters for headings and important words. [p113]
The capitals written at the beginnings of books, chapters, and paragraphs grew larger and more ornamental, and at length were made in colour and decorated with pen flourishes. Such letters, used to mark the beginnings of verses, paragraphs, &c., were called "Versals."[23]
In modern printing and ordinary writing the first line of a paragraph is generally _indented_ (_a_, fig. 78), but the earlier method of employing a special mark or letter (_b_ or _c_) is more effective, and it might very well be used, even in modern printed books, for fine editions. Affording a legitimate opening for illumination and book-ornament, it was (and _is_) the natural method for the penman, who, starting with these useful capitals, by flourishing them--in their [p114] own colour, or by dotting, outlining, or ornamenting them, with a contrasting colour (see fig. 79, from an old MS.), evolved the _Illuminated Initial_.