This reference book studies the script, art, and culture of the early Arabic Kufic calligraphy. It presents around hundred historical stone inscriptions, coins, and manuscripts from early-Islamic Persia. In their book, the primary author and famed Iranian early Kufic expert and calligrapher, S.M.V. Mousavi Jazayeri, and his fellow co-authors read and analyze with meticulous detail the calligraphy, script, and art work of thirty-seven Kufic gravestone inscriptions, mainly from the Yazd providence of Iran. The carefully-selected inscriptional sample in this book illustrates the remarkable power and versatility of this early script, and the extent of the global role played by it in shaping societies and cultures of a vast area extending from China to Spain.

Create an alphabet all your own with a helping hand from Hand Lettering A to Z and its team of international artists here to help you get started. Your hand lettering contains a little bit of you! Hand lettering not only expresses what you have to say, but also demonstrates the creativity in your communications. In Hand Lettering A to Z, artist and author Abbey Sy has invited four international artists--Meg Hyland, Joao Neves, Tessa Go, and Lisa Lorek--to join her in designing all new alphabets for you to draw and use in many different languages. You don't have to be a trained artist to master the art of hand lettering. These alphabets are for every skill level, and will suits any taste. Do you want colorful script full of bombast? Maybe an austere black and white script? Whether you're going for classic or just plain fun, Hand Lettering A to Z has direction for you. So why wait to get creative? Grab some supplies and customize twenty-six letters of your own!