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Fading painted signs with Sam Roberts

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Books

Five of the Best: Books about Ghost Signs

Over the years I’ve tried to seek out and review books about ghost signs here on the blog. Here is a set of recommendations drawn … Read more

Categories Sign Destinations, Signs in Media

Fading Ads of Gloucester by Chris West

Fading Ads of Gloucester extends the current series from the History Press in the UK, USA, and Ireland. The material has been researched and gathered … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media

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

Categories Signs in Media

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

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media

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

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations, Signs in Media

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

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media
Cover of Ghost Signs of Dublin by Antonia Hart and Lynn Nalty

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

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Folk, Signs in Media
Painted sign fading on a wall advertising Teinturerie des Penitents

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

Categories Signs in Media

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

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media

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

Categories Signs in Media
Cover of the book Fading Ads of St. Louis by Wm. Stage

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

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Folk, Signs in Media
Restored painted sign advertising Knis & Gunnink coffee and tea house in Kampen

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

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation, Signs in Media
Painted sign, fading on a wall in Nicaragua

My first Ghostsign, from Nicaragua

While preparing for Wednesday’s talk at St Bride I rediscovered this in an old photo album from my 1998 travels in Central America. It is … Read more

Categories Signs of Note
Montréal street scene with ghostsign in archival image

‘Sur Les Murs’: Montréal’s Bilingual Ghostsigns

‘Sur les murs‘ (‘on the walls’) is the first book about ghostsigns to come out of Canada. It is a French language publication, as it … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media, Signs of Note
Cover of Fading Ads of Birmingham book by Charles Buchanan and Jonathan Purvis

Fading Ads of Birmingham by Charles Buchanan and Jonathan Purvis

Birmingham, Alabama, is the location for this addition to the ghostsigns literature from resident advertising expert and artist Charles Buchanan. For a city founded as … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media
Hand-painted sign saying 'Sign painters do it in 1 shot'

Sign Painters: The movie, the book and the resurgence

The Sign Painter Movie is now on tour with dates booked in until November, including Scotland and New Zealand for those outside the film’s USA … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Initiatives, Sign Making, Signs in Media
Fragment of hand-painted sign for Lewis Stone

Liverpool Ghost Signs by Caroline and Phil Bunford

Today sees the publication of the UK’s first ghostsigns book. Liverpool Ghost Signs by Caroline and Phil Bunford is “a sideways look at the city’s … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Folk, Signs in Media

Now published: Hand-Painted Signs of Kratie

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you what many are tipping for this year’s surprise Christmas best seller, my first book, Hand-Painted Signs of Kratie. It … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Initiatives, Signs in Media
Fading hand-painted sign for Sewing Silk on Montreal wall

Montreal ghostsigns book

I’ve just learned of a new book that has been published all about Montreal’s ghostsigns in Canada. It looks to be a fascinating addition to … Read more

Categories Signs in Media
Hand-painted sign advertising a Jamaican dancehall event

Jamaican Dancehall Signs by Maxine Walters

Gabriel Heatwave sent me a treat of a link to this article about a new book and exhibition celebrating the hand-painted signs used to advertise … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media
Cover of Hamburg Alphabet book by Chris Campe

Hamburg Alphabet by Chris Campe

Hamburg Alphabet by Chris Campe is a delightful expose of one German city’s signage and public lettering. Featuring 220 images it catalogues these examples in … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations, Signs in Media
Watercolour by Dana Forrester showing two classic cars in front of a painted wall sign for Wrigley's Doublemint gum

Dana Forrester, ghostsigns and classic cars

Work on my book means that I haven’t been blogging as diligently as usual so this is getting back to it. Through William Stage (author … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Folk, Signs in Media
Hand painted cover for 'Hand Painted Signs of Kratie' book

Cover for ‘Hand Painted Signs of Kratie’

Here is a preview of the hand painted cover for the ‘Hand Painted Signs of Kratie’ book. You can also see some photos and video … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Signs in Media
Khmer lettering on the cover of Hand Painted Signs of Kratie

Creating the cover for Hand Painted Signs of Kratie

Today, after three weeks of checking back on an almost daily basis, I caught Kratie signpainter Chouk Rachana at work on the cover for my … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Signs in Media
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Welcome

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

  • Signs of Note
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