Sumptuously designed for Letterform Archive by the French studio Violaine Jérémy, the book features an impressive format and original cover art. Complete with a selection of rarely seen historical photography of shop signs in 19th-century Paris, this volume constructs a rich panorama of the age of 'la peinture en lettres'. More than 150 large-scale reproductions of stunning alphabets, most produced for the first time, and an extensively researched historical essay by Morgan Côme.Beginning in the 19th century, sign painters adorned the streets and storefronts of French cities with eye-catching letters in styles ranging from the elegant to the eccentric. Large chromolithographic portfolios supplied these artisans with an array of dazzling model alphabets for use as inspiration, teaching aids and shows of technical skill. 'Lettres Décoratives' offers a definitive collection of plates from these portfolios originally published from the mid-1800s through the 1930s.More than 150 large-scale reproductions of stunning alphabets, most reproduced for the first time ever, provide a wealth of inspiration and insight into sign painting styles and techniques. An extensively researched historical essay by expert sign painter and author Morgane Côme tells the fascinating story of French sign painting and explores the significance of its chromolithographic alphabet albums.