The Book of Signs (Dover Pictorial Archive)

Adding this to my library collection. Cool book for those who like to read about the meaning of signs.

"The Book of Signs" is an illustration-rich collection of Byzantine, medieval and related European symbols. The Dover Publications edition is a clean softcover edition of the work which is printed in the author Rudolf Koch's "magere deutsche" typeface (a Gothic / old-style German typeface similar to those used in Germany in the 19th century and earlier).Useful to the medievalist, the occultist as well as the fantasy roleplayer, the collection includes nearly 500 different symbols collected in 14 chapters. Symbols include Christian, astrological, botanical, and chemical ones from the Byzantine and European traditions; personal and family signs such as early monograms, stonemason's signs and armorial signs; and the Norse runes. The signs themselves are woodcuts, which combined with the older style Germanic typeface give the book a distinctive look. Chapters include a short introduction and most signs include a short description.The book's strength lies in its wide range of medieval symbols and its evocative visual look (woodcut symbols and German typeface). As a research tool it has limited utility, but for its graphic appearance it is a good choice for the layman. On a side note for AD&D gamers and World of Greyhawk enthusiasts, this work was used as inspiration by Gary Gygax for many of the symbols presented in the World of Greyhawk folio and 1983 boxed set.

Rudolf Koch’s Book of Signs is a wonderful collection of medieval, astrological, chemical and other symbols, all drawn (written) by Koch with edged pen. This makes them easily incorporated into calligraphic works. Koch was an extremely important calligrapher, type designer, and Offenbach Workshop (liturgical art) coordinator in the late 19th into early 20th centuries. This is an extremely important collection of 350 of his symbols and Dover should be thanked for publishing it.

It's pretty to look at, but very short, very basic, and very limited with very few signs/symbols and very little information on any of them. This is a book I've browsed through a few times and did enjoy but didn't learn too much from. It's a book that I'd like to have on my shelf as a quick yet pretty obscure reference if I had found it for real cheap at a thrift store or rummage sale, in which case it would be a treasure and a really cool find. At this price and brand new, it's a waste of my money.

This completely changed how I view symbols and logos. Just knowing the little meanings is super handy. I run a D&D game and will be using what I learned here to give ton's of people their own marks.

Koch is known as a master callygrapher and typographer. His insights in this book are both beautiful and enlightening. His design and style is powerful and a lesson for modern times.

it's a good book from one persons perspective, knowledgeable, but the lettering is a little hard to read from time to time. It has an old feel to it, which i think the author was going for.

Thank you,glad to find a copy!

I have recently become interested with symbols and mysticism. Although I don’t really know where to start, I have found this book pointing me in the right direction. Grammar and spelling needs improvement, but the content is good. I felt it could go into more detail, but that’s part of the journey to find out more for myself. A nice way as means of introduction.

libro molto interessante

Thanks for the fast delivery. I owned this book years ago and lost it. I am very happy to have found a copy again! The array and variety of signs and symbols is vast and amazing. A great book to get lost in, dreaming of plot ideas incorporating communications through signs left in unusual places. This is the best book of its type I have ever come across.

buena descripción histórica

沢山のシンボルの説明を知ることができると思い、買ってみました。１日でちらっとみてもうにどみることがないようなものですが。