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
Books
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
‘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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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