When you get it, you will SEE that you did, indeed. (Unless it's in shreds!) For sure, they're ALL GOOD, and the earlier the better! Total inspiration.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Good Job William! I have recently been aquiring a few books off eBay... this one for $1.50
& a Speedball one, similar to yours but from 1960
& the one I'm most interested in, originally from 1898 is "The Art & Craft of Signwriting by William Sutherland" is a reprinted edition in a 12" x 15" hard cover with a mass of detailed information on signwriting, layout, hand lettering, glass gilding & etching & includes 26 full color plates from signwriting artwork going back several centuries.
Posted by Glenn S. Harris (Member # 2190) on :
Time for me to get back on Ebay!
Posted by Adrian Howard (Member # 491) on :
got this book on ebay a year ago
Printed 1866 "The History of Signboards" Paid approx $20
wonderful reading
Posted by Darrell Giese (Member # 768) on :
I have a little book, "Scripts" by Rand Holub, 1950, that is a great reference. Too bad we can't put all these books in a library we can all access...
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Darrell, Thats actually a real good Idea. I would be willing to scan the book into the computer and create a PDF of mine if others are willing to do the samething. These books are so old and out of print I don't think we would be violating any copywrite laws. Then we could trade them and or have them on a FTP site to download. Letterville libary.. HMMM... Any other takers
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
I got "Elements of Lettering & Sign Painting" printed in 1899 for a signwriting school. It's the first book for their course. Think with shipping it cost me about $5 or so, definately under $10. There is a name inside "William Wehland" (the d is either a D, A or O.)
Posted by Darrell Giese (Member # 768) on :
Bill, I think I will do just that with mine, it's only 60 pages.
[ November 12, 2003, 10:22 PM: Message edited by: Darrell Giese ]
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I might join in on this. My speedball book fits on the scanner. The bigger one has very huge pages full of small text.The 26 color plates would be something I could capture with digital photo's, but I think that mine has been reprinted recently enough (1989) that it would not be a good idea. When I get to atend a meet I will bring it along, because it is a real letterhead treat to see this book.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Doug, I've got Sutherland's book- it was a 1987 reprint by Omega Books, England. Cost $40 Australian back then. The cover is good, as are the few colour plates in the back. The text gets very involved, and is fascinating for what it is. From memory there's a lot about asphaltum shading of gold leaf etc, and some nice ornamental alphabets in the back. I've redrawn a few and used them from time to time in the pre-computer days. There was another version of this book too- I borrowed it and photographed a couple of pages in the 1970s- it's very similar, but not the same- and it was an original disintegrated book.
Edited to add- it's a HUGE book- each page is roughly A3 in size- 29 x 38 cm.
[ November 13, 2003, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
William,
Sounds like you got a great deal.
I have an old Speedball book here (1964) and it's a great reference in a pinch.
Sometimes it's not what it's worth to others, but what it's worth to you. Rapid
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
"The one I lent out...."
I had a 1937 Speedball book, not a hardcover, the paper kind. My Grandfather originally had it, my Dad ended up with it, and I got it when I went into signs. Some years later, loaned it, bad thing, and now it's just a memory!
John Lennig / SignRider
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
forgot to say.... after seeing Doug's post about the Signwritten Art book, I got out my copy, bought last year up here, yes, it's HUGE, with 33 pages of Tiny text, i can only read couple pages at a time, to hard on the eyes!! It's written in the language/style of the day 1889, some passages could be read as a speech, wearing a tophat and muttonchop sideburns! Very interesting and enjoyable reading, for sure.
John Lennig / SignRider
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
quote: It's written in the language/style of the day 1889, some passages could be read as a speech, wearing a tophat and muttonchop sideburns!
excellent description John!
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
I have over 500 old lettering, alphabet and sign books dating as far back as 1864 and they are mine all mine all MINE! Nyaaahhahahahahahahahahaha eat yer hearts out, ya buncha sticker heads.
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