Over the summer I have been working on the BLAG shop, which is now packed with beautiful, inspiring, and informative books about sign painting, and sign painters.

Some of these are almost impossible to come by, and some are the last known stock anywhere in the world. Read on for a run-down of what's available.

How To Books

These are the best generally available guides to the crafts of sign painting and gilding. BLAG 01 has reviews for the two on sign painting, and the gilding one remains the most comprehensive title of its kind.

How to books in the BLAG shop include: Signwriting Tips, Tricks and Inspiration by Joby Carter; Sign Painting by Mike Meyer & Friends; and Gold Leaf Techniques by Kent H. Smith, from the original by Raymond LeBlanc.

Books About Sign Painters

My project to get Signpainters Don't Read Signs back into print is now complete, and the book is available to buy in paperback. There's then the classic Sign Painters by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, and Brush Master, which is about Indianapolis sign painter Jasper Travis, aka Mississippi.

Books about, and by, sign painters: Sign Painters by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon; Brush Master from Half Letter Press; and the 2023 reissue of Signpainters Don't Read Signs.

A Sign Painter's Sketch Book

A Sign Painter's Sketch Book by Noel B. Weber is described as "the new Atkinson" by Ash Bishop of Brilliant Signs, and is now available once again for customers outside of the USA.

BLAG members have a 10% discount on everything in the shop until the end of September. Join today to access the discount, in addition to receiving a host of other membership benefits.

Join BLAG Today

History Books

I managed to track down a secret stash of new copies of A.J. Lewery's Signwritten Art , which is the best account of the craft's history, at least in the UK. And these are the last known new copies of Flowers Afloat, a deep dive into the traditional decorative work on British canal boats.

(At the end of November, Ginny Barlow is giving a BLAG Demo on painting roses in the British narrowboat tradition. She will also be talking about the history of these and other motifs on the waterways.)

Online Event Info

Looking back: Ghost Signs: A London Story by Sam Roberts and Roy Reed; Signwritten Art by A.J. Lewery; The Origin of the Serif by Edward Catich; Flowers Afloat by Tony Lewery.

The Origin of the Serif is Edward Catich's seminal work on how the Roman letters were painted with a brush before carving, and Ghost Signs: A London Story is my own contribution to the historical record. (Read the 'Sign Production' chapter here.)

Lettering Locations

BLAG 02 contains a review of Letras Que Flutuam by Fernanda Martins. I have had the last available stock of the book shipped over from Brazil, so when they're gone, they're gone.

(This weekend Fernanda will be sharing more of her work, including an exclusive screening of her film Marajó das Letras. This online event is free for all.)

Brazil's Letter Openers

As always with BLAG, things are truly international, and other lettering locations in the shop are represented via The Curly Letter of Amsterdam (read bl.ag online review) and Hand-Painted Signs of Kratie (Cambodia).

There is very limited stock of Letras Que Flutuam. Also check out The Curly Letter of Amsterdam and Hand-Painted Signs of Kratie.

Bardas de Baile

With all the recent focus on Mexico, I was stunned to see Bardas de Baile: Mexican Wall Painting selling for hundreds of dollars in second-hand marketplaces. So I tracked down a box of new copies and have made them available for a lot less than this in the shop. (My 2013 review of the book can be found here at ghostsigns.co.uk.)

Mike Meyer Collection

After being out of stock for a while, I now have Morgue File Book 1 and Morgue File Book 2 available again, and The Showcards Book is currently listed with 25% off the regular price.

And, Finally...

If you want some sign painting humour in your life, then look no further than Bob Parsons book of SignCraft cartoons.

More Learning

More People

More History

More Places

More Books