Graphic and publication designer
Dick Sheaff is sharing his amazing collection of ephemera along with some keen insight and history to help put things in context.
All of the above images are examples of the
Gaslight Style:
"One pronounced aspect of Victorian design was a great interest in creating the illusion of depth, particularly so with lithographers. Type, vignettes, products and design elements are made to seem multi-layered through the use of shadows, superimposition, dimensional banners and ribbons, turned-up faux page corners and choice of colors.
Some have labeled this the
Gaslight Style approach to design, for example Maurice Rickards: "
Said to have derived from the play of lamps on three-dimensional street lettering, i.e. storefront signage, etc. The style appears to have originated in Germany, spreading, through the influence of German printing skills, throughout the world."
Chief features of the style are heavily three-dimensional lettering with a vigorous rendering of tonal gradation and shadow effects. A characteristic treatment involved the use of a vignetted 'cloud-work' background against which lettering appeared in lighter tone, with heavy shadowing to hold outlines where these overlapped on to plain paper. A wealth of heavy scroll- and strap-work, also rendered in three dimensions, filled in the interstices of the design.
The style, for which at the time no specific name emerged, is thought to have been inspired by the chiaroscuro effects of gas lighting, and has subsequently received the designation
Gaslight Style."
And while you're there, don't miss Mr. Sheaff's little side collection of
People Holding Fish! That's Right,
HMK
Big Gracias to
Eric Baker over at
Design Observer.
Really digging this retro alphabet set from UK illustrator Paul Thurlby.
This is really cool. Since the first week of this new year I've been following San Francisco mixed media artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon's blog A Collection A Day.
hat's Right. The Daily Drop Cap. An ongoing project by typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische. Each day (or at least each WORK day), a new hand-crafted decorative initial cap is posted for your enjoyment and for the beautification of blog posts everywhere. 
Wojtex Polak
Geonetix
Sarah King
Nate Williams
BU Design
The Hamilton Manufacturing Co. traces its roots back to the very first wood types made in the United States. Darius Wells produced the first American wood type in 1828; his business was reorganized into Wells & Webb, then acquired by William Page, later passing back to the Wells family, and finally sold to Hamilton sometime before 1880. The product of this consolidation was a type specimen book issued in 1900, Hamilton’s Catalogue No. 14, which offers a good survey of American display typography of the nineteenth century.
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