From our image database

The Oak - Rooms from Fishingwishing (waymarking)

Courtesy of fishingwishing, all rights reserved
Location: Lemoore, California, United States
Time Period: 0's
Type style: decorative, sans serif, slab serif and hand-painted
Materials and methods: ghost sign, painted and on brick building
Purpose: advertisement and identification

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An image database and journal dedicated to documenting and contextualizing letters and type on historic signs, broadsides, and buildings -- exploring their role in history, design, and society.

A random sample from our collection

Canada Quebec MontrealEngland Unknown LondonUnited States Ohio CambridgeUnited States California LemooreUnited States Unknown UnknownUnited States California San DiegoUnited States California FresnoUnited States Colorado Fort Collins

Coming in Fall: HistoricType Online Journal

The Journal will be a place for type enthusiasts to contribute to our understanding of the role historic lettering and type on signs, broadsides, and buildings has played (and continues to play) in our field. Topics may include, but are not limited to: materials, methods, cultural significance, type history, advertising, historical context, preservation, and architecture.

At HistoricType.com, our goal is to document and contextualize letters and type on historic signs, broadsides, and buildings.

Submissions that help us meet this goal are always welcome.

Although the journal is still in the planning process, if you have a thoughtful, well-written essay, commentary, interview, etc. you’d like to submit, please email it as an attachment to submissions@historictype.com. Word documents are preferred. Please attach any images related to the article as jpegs.