27 Apr 2018

Roy Reed’s Reconstructions

Roy Reed is a prolific collector and researcher of ghost signs, and uses his skills as a designer to decipher them. I’ve featured his work previously, on the almost illegible William Walker & Sons sign in Bermondsey. Roy is also a co-collaborator on the forthcoming Clapham Ghostsigns Walk. He has kindly shared some more of his forensic deciphering work, and I’ve selected ten of my personal favourites to present below, including the Rubenstein sign that features on my Stoke Newington walk. You can also find more of Roy’s photography within his extensive Flickr collection.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

Here’s how it looks otherwise.

Photo by Roy Reed

And side by side for context and comparison.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

In this example Roy has extended his work beyond the currently visible portions of the sign.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

Before…

Photo by Roy Reed

After, still with some obscured…

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

In this example Roy has even managed to incorporate the illustrated element with reference to other visual sources.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

And square on.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

Before…

Photo by Roy Reed

After…

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

I was able to help with this one by providing some of the text that I knew of from my own research.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

And square on.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

Layout developed to accommodate intruding window.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

And as it actually appears now.

Photo by Roy Reed

This one in Islington featured in Harvey’s survey, and it’s great to see it all transcribed.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

And in context.

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

Here the technique has been applied to tease apart the layers of a palimpsest, much as Craig Winslow does for his Light Capsules.

Photos and reconstructions by Roy Reed

Before…

Photo by Roy Reed

After…

Photo & Reconstruction by Roy Reed

Thank you Roy for your work on these, and sharing them here on the blog.

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