Polypus narium
Polypus narium is a 1662 Latin medical dissertation by Johann Adam Beza, printed in Argentorati (Strasbourg) by Johann Pastorius and held by the Wellcome Library. The picture is a page detail showing a large decorative woodcut initial C with interlaced foliate ornament beside dense roman black-letter text, with a Greek-style initial word in italic. A designer might take from it the strong contrast between an ornate capital and tightly set text, a classic model for drop-cap and editorial layout.
