Vintage typography & lettering, part III - hand painted signs

In last part of our blog series about vintage typography and lettering you could read about neons. Now it's time for hand painted signs which are older that more advanced printing techniques, neon signs, motion pictures - and that's their power - their age.

Painter Chauncey Curtis works on a silent film advertisement for a theater in Mankato, Minnesota, in the 1930s. Courtesy Faythe Levine and Sam Macon.

Posted: May 12, 2015 | Tagged: graphic design, lettering, painting, typography, vintage

Rue Marcellin's time machine

Once on this blog characters from Rue Marcellin's poster & print collection came alive. Now we decided to use our time machine and let some of them move to modern times. ;) Here they are:

And here's how they look on original prints:

1. La Vie Parisienne - Conversation avec Mademoiselle - June 1921 Original Magazine Cover Print

2. La Vie Parisienne - En Roue Libre - circa 1920 Original Magazine Print 

Would you like to see some of other characters from RM's prints in modern times? Choose your favourite print from our shop and let us now in the comment below! 

(Photos used as backgrounds - via Unsplash.com)

Posted: May 06, 2015 | Tagged: collage, illustration, poster, time machine, travel, vintage

Vintage typography & lettering, part II - neons

In the second part of our journey through vintage letters we'll focus on signs, which lit up city streets for decades. We are experiencing a bit of a rediscovery of neons and are giving many of them a chance to shine again!

Posted: Apr 29, 2015 | Tagged: ads, graphic design, lettering, neons, typography, vintage

Vintage typography & lettering, part I - books, boards, posters

Posted: Apr 22, 2015 | Tagged: book, calligraphy, font, graphic design, illustration, lettering, print, ruemarcellin, script, typography

Vintage French Illustrations Take Motion and Come Alive!

We decided to choose two illustrations from Rue Marcellin's collection and let them live their life for a moment. ;) Two decades of difference, two various moods, both - illustrative, joyful and a bit nostalgic. 

First - indoor entertainment at the famous Maxim's de Paris, men's conversations, glasses in hands and top hats on heads: Maxim's 1902 Original Print

And second one -  outdoor adventure, female trip, wind in the sails and a pinch of elegance : La Vie Parisienne - Un Mousse d'Occasion - circa 1920 Original Magazine Print 

Which one is your favorite?

Posted: Apr 15, 2015 | Tagged: animation, cover, graphic design, illustration, magazine, print, ruemarcellin