Better Letters

Films

Meet Josef Samuel, Vienna’s Last Signpainter

Short biopic about Josef Samuel, fourth-generation Viennese sign painter, and his sign painting museum.

History

The ‘Red List’ of Heritage Crafts

Lettering and sign crafts, some viable, some 'endangered', according to the Heritage Crafts Association.

Events

Letters out on the Tiles in London

A chat with Hana Whaler and Jake Tyler about their work on Tactile and the Alphabetics Anonymous team.

Books

A Love Letter to Amsterdam’s Curly Letter

Book about Amsterdam's 'curly letter' is an informative and visually rich guide to the vernacular style.

People

‘Recovered Letters’ from Juan Nava

Spanish graphic designer Juan Nava recreates lettering on old signs in his 'Letras Recuperadas' project.

Events

Festival of Writing at the British Library

British Library exhibition on writing, through the history and practise of 30 different writing systems.

Events

Tokyo Letterheads: Now Bigger in Japan

Review of Tokyo Letterheads, Asia's first international meet, hosted by Peter Liedberg, aka Letter Boy.

Books

Discover Denmark’s Signs with Jakob Engberg

A look inside the visually inspiring Danske Skilte (Danish Signs) by Copenhagen Signs' Jakob Engberg.

History

Signwriting & Type’s Enduring Relationship

Type Tasting's Sarah Hyndman on the recurring role of signwriting in the development of typefaces.

History

‘Tickets’ and the French Sign Painter in London

'Tickets' and his sign painting partner are trying to make ends meet in London's sign game in the 1870s.

Books

The ‘Brush Master’ of Indianapolis

New Half Letter Press book profiling work of Indianapolis sign painter Jasper Travis, aka Brush Master.

History

A Curtain Call for the Theatre Advertising of Old

Theatre curtain from Ludlow, Massachusetts hosts a time capsule of c.1920s hand-painted advertisements.

Places

Opening the Digital Doors to Letterform Archive

Letterform Archive's free, searchable online collection that includes a wealth of lettering inspiration.

Events

Carters’ Collective Letterheads

Sign painting in the sun at Joby Carter's Collective Letterheads in Carters Steam Fair yard.

People

Getting Sketchy with Noel B. Weber

Noel B. Weber shares his sign painting and Letterheads story inside the 'Sign Painters Sketch Book'.

People

James Rosenquist: His Billboards Past

James Rosenquist, famous for his work as a (pop) artist, owes a lot to his humble sign painting past.

Projects

Lost & Foundry from Fontsmith

Hand-painted, ceramic, enamel and moulded signs in Soho inspire Lost & Foundry typefaces from Fontsmith.

Events

Letterheads 2018: London Calling Review

Review of Letterheads 2018: London Calling, the first sign painting event of its kind in London.