Et cetera - Script

"Most people today would read this as an "Er." But over 400 years ago it would have been read for what it is… an abbreviation of et cetera. The E character is obvious, while the t looks something like a 20th century form of script r due to the ligature descending from the end of the t's cross; the ligature then flows to the right creating an extra swash stroke. The swash termination is the indicator that ampersand is actually an "etc." Such marks were common in writing for many centuries, finally fading from use around the mid-1800s. Though this early 1600s example is French the practice was used universally throughout Europe & England."

~2016, Don Marsh~
©2016 Don Marsh