Books like The sign painter's secret by Dorothy Hoobler

At a London boarding school for young ladies, Sophronia learns that proper etiquette masks a curriculum of espionage, intrigue, and mechanical tinkering.

In the heart of Nazi Germany, Michael O'Shaunessey, son of the Irish ambassador, infiltrates the Hitler Youth to spy for his parents and the British Secret Service, uncovering the mysteries of the covert Nazi operation Projekt 1065.

310 pages ; 24 cm.HL760L Lexile

Teenage Kansan farm boy Lije Tulley joins abolitionist raiders known as Jayhawkers, freeing slaves in Missouri before infiltrating the state as a covert spy during the Civil War.

In Nazi-occupied Norway, Espen becomes a spy and a courier, rising through the ranks of the resistance.

The sought after period sign books; originals are fairly scarce. R. Henderson seemed to be the person responsible for compiling the book of plates by various noteworthy sign designers of the time. The Denver artist, John Ohnimus, stands out among the group with striking images, lettering, and layouts. Original editions were printed with numerous color plates, however the **1991 edition** printed by **Signs of the Times** was printed only in black and white. That version also included plates from another Henderson book called “The Signtist” (1905).

Atticus, a young slave in ancient Rome, must secretly infiltrate society to gather intel and thwart a conspiracy against the Emperor.

There was a time-as recently as the 1980s-when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards, and even street signs were all hand-lettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fueled promise of quicker and cheaper. The resulting proliferation of computer-designed, die-cut vinyl lettering and inkjet printers has ushered a creeping sameness into our visual landscape. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to seek out traditional sign painters and a renaissance in the trade. In 2010 filmmakers Faythe Levine, coauthor of Handmade Nation, and Sam Macon began documenting these dedicated practitioners, their time-honored methods, and their appreciation for quality and craftsmanship. Sign Painters, the first anecdotal history of the craft, features stories and photographs of more than two dozen sign painters working in cities throughout the United States.