Ghost Signs. A London Story

Urban palimpsests help us make sense of the cities we live in. These fleeting traces – ranging from layered building fabric and street plans to the faint remains of signage or lettering on party walls – preserve stories of earlier residents’ lives and concerns. “Ghost signs”, painted, carved or set in moulded lettering on building façades, appeared in the 19th century, flourished between the wars, and later largely vanished as paper billboards took their place. 

In Ghost Signs: A London Story, writer Sam Roberts and photographer Roy Reed trace an alternative history of London. The publication catalogues each sign with photographs and contextual notes, and explores the stories behind them – as well as the particular conditions that have allowed some to survive. I was more than happy to create the design concept for Isola Press, London, which was carried out in the following by Eve Izaac.