Alphabet Collection

Illustration showing 26 sign language hand signals representing letters of the alphabet

Ancient Arabic Alphabet
Different types of ancient Arabic alphabets Date: Circa 1760

Initial page from the Lindisfarne Gospels, late 7th or early 8th century. Gospel of St John the Evangelist, originally produced in Lindisfarne, North East England

Alphabet & Typography
The Ancient Japanese alphabet Date: Circa 1760

OLYMPIC GAMES, 1896. Poster from the first modern Olympic Games, held in 1896 at Athens, Greece

The Periodic Table Digital Illustration
In the late 19th century, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev published his first attempt at grouping chemical elements according to their atomic weights

Development of the English alphabet. The Old Greek alphabet derived from Phoenician and was in use by 900-800 BC. A western variant, known as the Euboean or Cumae alphabet

Page of illuminated text from the Gospel of St Luke, c700. Latin text with intricate decoration inspired by Celtic designs. From the Gospel of St Luke, Lindisfarne Gospels

Mosaic with arab and kufic caligraphy (top) on a wall of the Madrasa. Fes. Morocco

Street Sign In Greek And Roman Alphabet, Downtown Athens, Greece
Street sign written in Greek letters and Roman letters on a street corner downtown Athens, Greece

BRAILLE, Louis (1809-1852). French pedagogue and inventor, creator of the writing system for the blind. Braille alphabet. Photography

Chart of some early alphabets
Various ancient alphabets: Coptic, Syriac, Ethioptic, Gothic, and Illyrian (Servian). Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

NATI2A-00094
Cherokee alphabet developed by Sequoyah. Woodcut reproduction with a watercolor wash

Sign language using a single hand, 1800s
Single-handed alphabet in sign language, used in the US, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

BRAILLE, Louis (1809-1852). French pedagogue and inventor, creator of the writing system for the blind. Braille alphabet. Photography

Ancient Alphabets
Writing examples of the Arabic, Turkish and Persian alphabets. Date: Circa 1760

Learning words
A boy catching the alphabet and words in his net 1922

Card index box. Index cards arranged alphabetically in a box

Hunting Alphabet - I
I stands for Industry (the name of a hound) and no better dog will ever be found

Cover design, Ovaltine ABC Rhyme Book - a happy family with a giant Ovaltine tin. Date: early 20th century

Alphabet / B for Bees
B - is for the Bees, that fly out here and there

Alphabet / D for Ducks
D - for ducks, swimming, diving, and playing together

FLOWER A
Flowery A

Sailors demonstrating flag semaphore system

Old lead type for letterpress printing

Pictographs and linear script symbols. The British archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941) found thousands of clay tablets dating from the second millennium BC at Knossos, Crete

The Heroines of 1940 : Greek poster, c1946, commemorating the women of the Greek Resistance Movement in World War II
WWII: GREEK POSTER, 1940. " The Heroines of 1940" : Greek poster, c1946, commemorating the women of the Greek Resistance Movement in World War II

Specimens of type, Leadenhall Press, London
Specimens of type from The Leadenhall Press, Ltd, 50 Leadenhall Street, London EC. circa 1900

SEQUOYA (1770?-1843). Native American scholar, with his printed Cherokee alphabet. Painting by Henry Inmam, after a painting by Charles Bird King, c1830

Phoenician coins and writing
Phoenician coins. Engraving depicting various coins and medals from the Phoenician civilisation. Phoenicia existed as a collection of city states in the coastal areas of modern day Lebanon and Syria

Cover design, The Mothers Picture Alphabet
Cover design in blue and gold, The Mothers Picture Alphabet, dedicated by Her Majestys Permission to HRH the Princess Beatrice, designed by Henry Anelay, engraved by James Johnston. Date: circa 1860

Signal flag for the numbers 0 and 1, international maritime signal flags, international code of signals

Signal flag for the letter N, international maritime signal flag, international code of signals

An alphabet of Dutch Dolls
Wooden Dutch dolls are contorted into the letters of the alphabet, showing off their supple wooden joints. 1912

S for Ship
From a Deans Rag Book entitled Kiddiewiddies ABC Date: 1920

Alphabet -- Letter W. 20th century

Alphabet -- Letter T. 20th century

Farmworker Takes Break
A British farmworker and his dog take a well-earned break from the plough

Reluctant Schoolboy 19C
A reluctant schoolboy is dragged to school by his mother

Alphabet / G for the Goat
G for the goat, with two kids young and gay

Birds / Owls / Alphabet
O for the owl, that flies out in the night

Animals / Cattle / Alphabet
Cattle in a rural English setting drinking water from a stream

FLOWER S
Flowery S

FLOWER G
Flowery G

FLOWER B
Flowery B

Alphabet / M for Miser
M - was a miser, who hoarded up gold

Rube Marquard, Brooklyn NL (baseball), 1916. Creator: Bain News Service
Rube Marquard, Brooklyn NL (baseball), 1916.

ABC white
Sofie Björkgren-Näse

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The alphabet, a timeless symbol of human communication and expression, has evolved throughout history. From the initial page of the Lindisfarne Gospels in the late 7th or early 8th century to an illustration showcasing sign language hand signals representing each letter, its significance transcends time and cultures. One cannot overlook the ancient Arabic alphabet, which holds immense cultural value. Its intricate calligraphy is a testament to the artistry and beauty embedded within this system of writing. Similarly, typography plays a crucial role in shaping how we perceive alphabets visually. As we delve into the development of the English alphabet, we witness its transformation over centuries. The ABC OF BABAR O from 1939 provides us with a whimsical glimpse into how letters can be brought to life through illustrations. Intricate illuminated texts like that found in St Luke's Gospel circa 700 demonstrate not only religious devotion but also highlight how alphabets were used as tools for storytelling and preserving knowledge. Beyond written languages, even symbols such as those found on The Periodic Table Digital Illustration have become part of our modern-day lexicon. They represent elements that make up our world and enable scientific understanding. The Olympic Games poster from 1896 reminds us that alphabets extend beyond mere words; they serve as emblems uniting nations under one common goal - athletic excellence. Moving away from traditional scripts, mosaic artwork featuring Arab and Kufic calligraphy showcases how they can transcend mediums by adorning walls with their elegance and meaning. Even street signs bear testament to alphabets' ubiquity; Greek and Roman characters guide pedestrians through downtown Athens while celebrating linguistic diversity. Lastly, Braille revolutionized accessibility for individuals with visual impairments thanks to Louis Braille's ingenuity. Through raised dots forming letters on paper, it opened new avenues for literacy among those who are blind or visually impaired. From ancient manuscripts to contemporary innovations, the alphabet remains an integral part of our lives.