All the fonts of the fair

All the Fonts of the Fair, Joby’s second book, takes a deep dive into fancy lettering styles found at traditional British fairgrounds up until the 1960s. Many of these vibrant, whimsical designs are missing from graphic design manuals and typography archives. This book helps continue their legacy and give them a new lease of life.

This full colour book includes 26 hand drawn fairground inspired alphabets. Each alphabet has a reference guide with tips on how to accurately recreate the lettering alongside details about the origin of the style and photographs of variations of the lettering in use. The alphabets represent an enormous amount of hours in the workshop with each letter drawn, painted and decorated by hand, ensuring it worked alongside the other alphabet letters and could stand up to scrutiny and be accurately copied and scaled.
Sharing the authentic, traditional skills of signwriting which can be traced back to the 19th Century, Joby Carter’s books are full of practical tips and guidance alongside stunning examples of hand painted lettering through the decades.

This book is an ideal companion for the seasoned signwriter and the budding beginner.