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Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts

Scribbling stuff about signs

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  • Articles
  • Productions
  • Editorial
Sam Roberts

Scribbling stuff about signs

Books

The American Sign Museum Book

4 September 20256 September 2025

Celebrating 25 years of the world’s biggest and best sign museum.

Articles

On the Brush with the New Generation of British Signwriters

1 August 20256 September 2025

Seven signwriters discuss their work and how they got into the trade.

Articles

Meet the Letterheads: Keith Knecht

20 June 20256 September 2025

Profile of sign painting and pinstriping legend, Keith Knecht.

Editorial

BLAG 07, the Letterheads Special

20 June 20256 September 2025

A slice through 50 years of the international Letterheads movement.

Articles

Quality Over Quantity: 75 Years of A.S. Handover

1 December 20246 September 2025

The history of these distinguished British brushmakers.

Editorial

BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)

1 December 20246 September 2025

The world’s only print and online magazine dedicated to sign painting.

Articles

The Decorated Oxcarts of Sarchí

1 June 20246 September 2025

The story of Costa Rica’s ‘carretas’ (ox carts) and their dazzling decoration.

Articles

Coming to America: Renewed Acclaim for the Artists of Accra

1 December 20236 September 2025

Profile of Deadly Prey Gallery’s work with traditional Ghanaian poster painters.

Articles

Dapper Signs

1 October 20236 September 2025

Honouring the life and work of James Cooper, aka Dapper Signs.

Articles

Downsizing: The Magic in the Minutiae

1 June 20236 September 2025

Zooming in on signs and lettering in miniature.

Books

Ghost Signs: A London Story

31 October 20216 September 2025

The most comprehensive book ever published about fading painted signs.

Productions

Ghostsigns Walking Tours

30 June 20216 September 2025

Exploring London’s ghost signs via virtual walking tours.

Articles

N.E. Signs

30 June 20216 September 2025

Documenting the defunct N.E. postcode that survives on London street signs.

Books

The Showcards Book

15 June 20216 September 2025

Retrospective of Mike Meyer’s sign painting workshops around the world.

Books

Sign Painting

9 May 20216 September 2025

The definitive contemporary how-to for the sign painting craft.

Articles

Letters from Tokyo

20 May 20196 September 2025

Reviewing the experience of participating in Asia’s first Letterheads meet.

Productions

When Better Letters Met

10 September 20186 September 2025

Short film series about retired sign painters around the world.

Productions

Mike Meyer’s Morgue Files

1 July 20186 September 2025

Lettering and layout inspiration from vintage signs and advertisements.

Articles

Forewords and Book Contributions

30 June 20186 September 2025

My writing in other people’s books.

Editorial

Advertising and Public Memory

17 August 20175 September 2025

The first ever scholarly treatment of the topic of fading painted signs.

Editorial

Fileteado Porteño – Past and Present

7 July 20166 September 2025

Gustavo Ferrari’s introduction to the vernacular Argentinian artform.

Articles

What is a Ghost Sign?

30 June 20166 September 2025

Defining ghost signs in a systematic way for an academic book.

Articles

Restoration Period

30 June 20146 September 2025

Feature on protecting, conserving, and restoring ghost signs.

Books

Hand-Painted Signs of Kratie

31 October 20126 September 2025

A love letter to the hand-painted signs in this small Cambodian town.

Articles

Ghost Signs: London’s Fading Spectacle of History

1 September 20076 September 2025

Examining London’s ghost signs within historical and contemporary contexts.

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