Dingo Flour Restoration in Fremantle Australia
On one of my recent Bankside Ghostsigns Walks an Australian guest tipped me off about the recent restoration of a famous Dingo Flour ghost sign … Read more
Signs in Media
Books, articles and video relating to ghost signs.
What is a Ghost Sign?
‘What is a Ghost Sign?‘ is the title of the second chapter of our book, Advertising and Public Memory. It is an attempt to provide … Read more
Painted Advertisements in Islington: Part 1
I am conducting a small investigation into the ghostsigns of Islington and am appealing for help from readers of this blog. The map below (view … Read more
Tracing the Origins of ‘Ghost’ Signs
When did old painted signs on walls become known as ‘ghost’ signs, and who coined the phrase? These questions crop up often in my discussions … Read more
Advertising & Public Memory: Social, Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Ghost Signs
Advertising & Public Memory is the first scholarly book focused on ghostsigns. It was a labour of love across much of 2015, work that included … Read more
Early Graphic Communications in Cave Paintings
Thanks to Derek for alerting me to this video which explores some of the earliest known forms of graphic communications and symbolism, building on previous … Read more
New Book: Ghost Signs of Bath
Ghost Signs of Bath has been a book waiting to happen for many years, and I have written about the city on a number of … Read more
Ghostsigns & Ghostletters of Vienna
One month ago I attended the launch of Ghostletters Vienna at the Wien Museum in Austria’s capital city. The book was conceived, written and produced … Read more
Ghostsigns with the Gentle Author on Spitalfields Life
I’ve recently had the pleasure of meeting the Gentle Author, creator and driver of the incredible daily posts on Spitalfields Life. We explored the routes … Read more
Fading Ads of Cincinnati
Fading Ads of Cincinnati by Ronny Salerno is the latest in the series of books from The History Press. Documenting the ghostsigns of his hometown, … Read more
Ghost Letters of Vienna
Ghost Letters of Vienna is a project to photographically document the wide range of fading fascias, and other forms of redundant lettering, on buildings in … Read more
Ghost Signs of Dublin by Antonia Hart
Last year saw the publication of Ghost Signs of Dublin, to my knowledge the first book covering the subject in Ireland. It is the latest … Read more
Restoration Period in the Monotype Recorder
Last year I was invited to contribute an article on ghostsigns to the reincarnation of the Monotype Recorder periodical. It focused on issues of protection … Read more
R.N. Cattle & Son in Harvey Gould’s Soho
This fascinating video about Soho features longtime resident Harvey Gould talking about the people and places that he remembers from the area. At 10:48 he … Read more
Ghostsigns in the Typographic Universe
A new book from Steven Heller and Gail Anderson features a handful of my ghostsigns photos from around the world (London, Cambodia, France and Australia). … Read more
Fading Ads of Philadelphia by Lawrence O’Toole
This ghostsign advertising Roxy’s Hunting Goods did for Lawrence O’Toole what the Stoke Newington Fount Pens sign did for me. It sensitised him to the … Read more
Dr King: The Story of a Melbourne Ghostsign by Nick Gadd
This Melbourne ghostsign is a recent reveal and was captured by Nick Gadd, the writer behind Melbourne Circle. Nick’s research into the sign was recently … Read more
London Shop Fronts on London Live
Following last week’s post about Shopfrontelegy, here’s a short film from the Secret London section of new TV station London Live. It’s based on the … Read more
Ghostsigns on Londonist Out Loud
I took N Quentin Woolf of Londonist Out Loud on a portion of my Ghostsigns Walking Tour in Stoke Newington. The result is this podcast … Read more
Sign Painters’ Online Release
After touring the world, including the London run hosted by Ghostsigns, Sign Painters is now available to watch online and as an HD download. You … Read more
A Book About Ghost Signs
I am on the editorial panel for a book due for publication next year. Although it will be too late to find a place on … Read more
Fading Ads of St. Louis by Wm. Stage
This stunning photograph is from the cover of Wm. Stage‘s latest addition to the ghostsigns literature, ‘Fading Ads of St. Louis‘. Stage’s first book, ‘Ghost … Read more
Photos and Reactions from the Sign Painters & Horn Please Double Bill
Click the picture below for a review of the London screenings of Sign Painters and Horn Please, February 2014.
Tekens Aan De Wand: Ghostsign Restoration in the Netherlands
Tekens Aan De Wand (Writing on the Wall) is a book documenting the collective efforts of local historical societies across the Netherlands to restore ghostsigns. … Read more