FROM http://www.dodedans.com/Eholbeinalf.htm

'Hans Holbein was incredibly productive. Together with his brother, Ambrosius, he created 2,000 initials in wood and metal in Basel.(1) His production falls in three parts that reflect his stays in that town: in 1516, end of 1519-1526 and in 1529 - 1531.

Holbein's dance of death alphabet was first used in August 1524 (picture to the right). The letters are quite small (2.5 x 2.5 cm), but incredibly detailed. The woodcutter was Hans Lützelburger (= Hans/John from Luxembourg), and we know this because his woodcutter's mark appears on some of the sheets that were printed along with the alphabet.

Precisely these printed sheets underline another thing that makes these initials very special: The 24 initials are not just 24 pieces of decoration; they form a unit. The alphabet starts with Bones of All Men like the dance of death in Basel. Then comes the entire society, starting with the mighty pope and emperor and (especially in the beginning) following a strict hierarchy. At the end of the dance comes the hermit who has left society behind him, the criminal gamblers and finally the weakest of them all: The child in the cradle. The series ends with resurrection and Judgment Day.

The printed sheets shows this even clearer. The series is introduced by a Bible quote about the inexplicabilities of the human life, then comes a quote for each scene, and it's all rounded off with a quote from Isaiah about how all flesh is grass (or hay) and that only the word of the Lord lasts eternally.

As always with Roman majuscules there are 24 letters.