The paper is engaged with a definition of the typolotgy and modifications fo the caligraphic initials, compared with the typology of painted initials, and also with a comparative study of the terminoloty used in different languages for the specific compositions. The interest is also focused on relations among countries, regions and workshops that participated in the transformations of the caligrafic initials. The subject is studied on a broad period, from the Late Antiquity till the 16th century, but without a typology of fleuronée, only compositions of the body of the initials have been taken into consideration.