THE BOOK OF DIVINE CONSOLATION OF THE BLESSED ANGELA OF FOLIGNO : TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY MARY G. STEEGMANN : INTRODUCTION BY ALGAR THOROLD

The BOOK

of the Divine

Consolation of

the Blessed

Angela Da Foligno.

1909. original: "MCMIX"

B.F.H. These initials belong to the artist Blanche F. Hunter, who adapted the design from a medieval manuscript held at the British Museum.

The layout of this title page is characteristic of the early 20th-century "Fine Press" movement, which sought to bring the beauty of medieval books to modern printing. The first letter of the word "The" is a historiated initial—a decorative capital letter containing a scene or figure—which depicts Angela of Foligno seated at a desk. Angela (c. 1248–1309) was an Italian Christian mystic and member of the Secular Franciscan Order; her "Consolations" record her intense spiritual visions and dialogues with God as transcribed by her confessor.