Rita Weiss is the author of Charted Monograms for Needlepoint & Cross-Stitch. I was unaware of this book, also edited by her, until recently although it is a Dover Press book from 1974. I hardly think that matters, Victorian Alphabets etc will not change in the years since. This is a new book, however old.

This book is another of Dover Presses excellent re-printings of older books, which would otherwise be lost. This selection of alphabets, names, initials & monograms are from American editions of Godey's Lady's Book & Peterson's Magazine from 1852 to 1880.

These are familiar names to me, as a reader of anything and everything I can lay my hands on (or download to my iPad). These magazines are often mentioned in fiction either written or set in those years. They were household mainstays.

To quote from the back cover
" Victorian woman put initials on nearly every piece of linen and clothing she owned-everything from handkerchiefs and blouses to tablecloths, napkins and towels. The modern needleworker may not be quite so avid about initialling everything but initials and monograms are still attractive and popular ways of decorating common items."

I take umbrage with the term *common items* one of the things I love to do is put my initials and maybe the date on canvases I stitch. Plus I have a soft spot for sayings & slogans. The first piece I ever designed had a slogan on it from a book by Sharyn McCrumb (If I killed him when I met him, I'd be out of jail by now).

The alphabets, Initials & monograms in this book are each available in a variety of letter forms, giving you a lot of choice. They are in Script, Floral, Geometric, Old English, Block, Ornamental and more. There are also alphabets that can be crocheted.

Included are 51 Alphabets and 163 designs. They are shown in a variety of sizes, as well.

Some of the designs & letters are familiar and some are not. A few appear to be quite unique. A useful book for any stitchers collection.

Published by Dover Press in 1974. Victorian Alphabets, Monograms & Names is a glossy paperbound book with 103 pages.