English and Hebrew native speakers read texts mutilated by removing strips at the top or bottom of lines. Reading English texts was impaired more by mutilating the top, but the reverse was found for Hebrew texts, due to the different ways information is distributed along the vertical axis of Roman and Hebrew letters. (Author/GT)

Reviews the life and career of sixteenth century cartographer Gerardus Mercator and, through samples of his work, isolates characteristics of his personal script to give calligraphic evidence of his authorship. (MB)