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Chasing Ghosts for the Coca-Cola Company

I was recently invited by the Coca-Cola Company to write a piece about ghost signs for their website. It turned into something of a summary … Read more

Categories Signs in Media

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

Categories Signs in Media
Restoration Period spread from Monotype Recorder

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

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs in Media
Fading sign painted on a wall advertising Dr King

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

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Stories, Signs in Media, Signs of Note
Fading painted advertisement on wall alongside piece of street art

Anarchy on the Walls: Ghostsigns, Street Art & Graffiti

Kasey Smith’s ‘Perception Filter‘ blog is well worth a follow for all ghostsigns enthusiasts. Her dispatches from San Francisco have been a big influence on … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Preservation
Faux ghostsign for Cinquecento cafe

Faux ghostsigns, authenticity and the passage of time: Guest post from Best Dressed Signs

‘Faux’ ghostsigns are a relatively new phenomenon but are appearing with increasing frequency around the world. I invited Meredith Kasabian, of Boston’s Best Dressed Signs … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Folk, Sign Making
Excerpt of the Ghost Signs of Fort Collins Walking Tour

Fort Collins and Watertown Ghostsigns

Building on the various tours and trails already published on this site, here are some more: Download a pdf of the Fort Collins Ghost Signs … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations
Sinc Mediums Britain Yorkshire Ghostsign as featured in Down Your Way magazine

Ghostsigns in ‘Down Your Way’ magazine

Yorkshire is the focus for this three page spread on ghostsigns in Down Your Way magazine from earlier this year.  Thank you to Mark Whitley of Country … Read more

Categories Signs in Media
Company emblem for Chicago Sign Company

Signwriter Bruce Buckley profiled in 2007 Signcraft magazine

This article about signwriter Bruce Buckley of the Chicago Sign Company is worth a read.  (Thanks Andrew Cordani for this link to this page which … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making, Signs in Media
Mayan mural from Guatemala

Astronomical charts and calculations on 9th Century Mayan wall paintings

This article discusses the recent discovery of these wall paintings in Guatemala dating from AD814.  More images in this guided tour of the site.  See … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs of Note
Deane & Co Clapham by Russell Norris

The stories behind some of the intriguing ghostsigns of Clapham and Battersea

A few years ago I spoke with Russell Norris who, at the time, was writing an article on ghostsigns for  a local free circular publication … Read more

Categories Sign Stories

William Stage investigates some of the ghostsigns of St Louis ahead of forthcoming book

Photo: William Stage This article offers a preview of some of the material that is lined up for the forthcoming book, Ghost Signs of St … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Folk, Signs in Media
CH N. Katz Brick Lane by Alan Dein

East End shop fronts exhibition profiled on Spitalfields Life

Photo: Alan Dein Interview with Alan Dein and more preview images of this exhibition on the Spitalfiends Life blog.

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Collections
Hand painted sign advertising Martini across four stories of building

Article charting the history and early photography of advertising painted on walls

Daniel Lohmann posted an article he’s written to the ghostsigns Facebook group. It is in german and the original can be found here [Link expired] with … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Collections, Signs in Media

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Hi, I'm Sam. I hope you enjoy learning about fading painted signs on this site. Please get in touch (sam@ghostsigns.co.uk) with discoveries and questions.

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Blog Topics

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  • Signs in Media
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