Characters: Cultural Stories Revealed through Typography
Stephen Banham and Rick Poyner
Type and signage surround us. They are part of our daily lives and the history of whichever city we happen to live in. Whether old or new, each sign has a story to tell. In Characters, Stephen Banham has meticulously researched the signage and typography of a city to present an exuberant collection of quirky, poignant and often funny stories. They range from how a callout to mend a burnt fuse on a neon sign led to the discovery of over 100 musical instruments hidden away in a train station tower for 50 years to the sign that had to be removed for eliciting illegal gambling. From architecture and advertising to cultural history and much more, Characters is a book that will appeal to historians, designers and typophiles alike. Featuring a treasure trove of long overlooked examples, Banham reveals how typography is a rich form of cultural expression, redefining the way we look at our surroundings one letter at a time. You will never walk down the street in the same way again.
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