Thanks for the recommendation.  I picked up this one at the American Sign
Museum in Cincinnati: "Ghost Signs: Brick Wall Signs in America" by William
Stage, published in 1989 by Signs of the Times.  My main complaint is that
95% of the pictures are in b&w.

http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Signs-Brick-Wall-America/dp/0911380841/sr=1-1/qid=1158192992/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1550296-7581522?ie=UTF8&s=books


On 9/13/06, Gary Vines <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> This is another of my incomplete studies - so far only a collection of
> photographs and notes - but since one of the more concerted enthusiasts has
> got the coffee table book out already - I probably won't be going anywhere
> with it.
>
> So I commend you to the recent Australian publication  "Signs of the times
> : a nostalgic celebration of Australian advertising signs" by  Geoff Hocking
> published 2005 by Five Mile Press
>
> <http://www.fivemile.com.au/images/adults/April06/signs-of-the-times.jpg>
>
>
>
>
>
> Gary Vines
>
>
>
> I've always been fascinated by "ghost signs", faded bits of history on the
> sides of buildings.  Most of the ones I've seen have been in small towns,
> and advertise stores and goods long gone.  One of the most famous, though,
> the Mail Pouch tobacco signs, are all over the place in the Midwest and
> Appalachia.and are actively being sought out and preserved by fans (a dear
> friend is the son of Harley Warrick, the last man to paint signs for Mail
> Pouch).  Given all of that, you can imagine my excitement when this story
> hit the front page in Columbus, OH.  I'm particularly pleased that, unlike
> so many communites and building owners, they fully appreciate the historic
> value of what they have.
>
>
> http://www.dispatch.com/emailme/emailme.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/02/20060902-B1-00.html
>
> History falls, rises anew in Chillicothe Now-leveled buildings had
> concealed mural ad possibly from late 1800s Saturday, September 02, 2006
> Kelly Hassett THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
>     FRED SQUILLANTE DISPATCH  Chillicothe officials plan to clean and seal
> a Mail Pouch tobacco mural found on the side of 25 E. 2 nd St. downtown. The
> neighboring buildings were torn down because they were damaged by a fire in
> July.
>
> CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Although a devastating fire stole a chunk of history
> from this southern Ohio city, it revealed another old gem to replace it.
>
> While demolishing the buildings at 29 and 33 E. 2 nd St., which were
> heavily damaged by the fire July 17 near the Majestic Performing Arts
> Center, construction workers and Majestic staff members this week found a
> Mail Pouch tobacco mural covering the side of 25 E. 2 nd St.
>
> The downtown buildings were built so close together that the advertisement
> was hidden.
>
> It was a sweet surprise to find one piece of well-preserved history as two
> others were being destroyed, said Deb Main, operations director for the
> Majestic.
>
> "It's been without air contact for over 100 years," she said.
>
> Officials plan to clean and seal the painting to preserve it.
>
> Wilbur Poole stood in the rubble of what used to be his building, 29 E. 2
> nd St., as a light rain fell yesterday.
>
> The sadness of losing the building was somewhat assuaged by the find.
>
> "There's more history in that than there ever was in these two buildings,"
> he said, pointing toward the painting.
>
> The Mail Pouch Tobacco company began in West Virginia in the late 1800s.
> The company launched a nationwide advertising campaign to paint Mail Pouch
> signs on barns and other buildings, many of which are considered historical
> landmarks now.
>
> Painting ads on exposed outside walls was common in the 1800s and early
> 1900s, said Pat Medert, an archivist at the Ross County Historical Society.
>
> The building at 25 E. 2 nd St. was built in 1880, and 29 and 33 E. 2 nd
> St.
> were built in 1892, she said.
>
> The ad also says "Notions, toys and fancy goods" at the top.
>
> Medert, who wrote a book about the history of 2 nd Street, said the
> building at one time was leased by a "notions" shop, which likely sold items
> such as gloves and hosiery.
>
> A few blocks away, Medert said, there was a flower shop ad from the early
> 1900s on the side of the Carlisle Building, which was damaged by a fire in
> 2003. She said she'll have to research whether there are any others from
> that period in Chillicothe.
>
> Workers were clearing away the last of the demolished 2 nd Street
> buildings yesterday, and everyone was hoping to find a date or an artist
> name on the Mail Pouch mural, said Rick Mytinger, whose company owns 25 E. 2
> nd St.
>
> "That might be worth more than the whole building," he said.
>
> *[log in to unmask] *
>