
Ghost sign hunting: A hobby full of soul
A Ghost Sign of the Times
In recent years a phenomenon has emerged amongst vintage advertising enthusiasts: spotting ghost signs. Ghost signs are the result of hand-painted advertisements on buildings and fences from the early twentieth century being exposed to the elements over many decades. So, this 'spooky’ season why not explore the advertising graveyard and use Trove to research the stories behind the signs.

A New Kind of In-spectre
People now make a habit of exploring cities in the hope of spotting ghost signs and sharing their finds with fellow enthusiasts. If you’re interested in hearing more from a ghost sign enthusiast, you can listen to this ABC interview with Melbourne writer and Ghost Sign Enthusiast Nick Gadd available through Trove.
Once you discover the existence of ghost signs it’s hard to stop yourself spotting them all around you.

In the present day what we see now may be a partially faded advertisement or even just a shadow of a company name, but the spirit of the work remains. These hand-painted works exhibit a sense of unbridled freedom in the artistry, and they have delightful imperfections that prove they were free-handed. Enjoy this WIN News video in Trove of signwriters at work.

For vintage advertising enthusiasts, it’s also interesting to see the progression of the company brand identity, from cruder beginnings to the distinctive branding we see today.

In the early twentieth century signwriting was an artform, with hand-painted pieces serving as a sort of artistic signature that is still being recognised and appreciated decades later.
Because of the uniqueness and high skill level needed for these signs, some signwriters even developed quite a following.

The ‘ghost’ component of ghost signs doesn’t just refer to the faded signage, it is also a reference to a personal artistry that doesn’t exist in the same way anymore in advertising. Other forms of marketing materials – like posters – can be easier to preserve and maintain records of over many years. But there’s something about the impermanence of hand-painted signs and their fragility against the elements that makes you want to stop and appreciate them while you can.

I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost… Sign
Don’t let the spooky name fool you, ghost sign hunting boils down to an appreciation of artistic expression and craftsmanship from days gone by. Part of the appeal of spotting ghost signs is they’re like fingerprints that give clues about the popular culture at the time. They give hints about the media platforms that were popular, the clothing that was in fashion and the brands that were reigning supreme. Nowadays, you’re not likely to see advertising for a ‘cure-all tonic’, ‘dental cream’ or ‘unrivalled pickles’.
Many ghost sign hunters are using Trove to trace the origin and histories behind these signs. Who owned that old shop? Whatever happened to that brand? These are some of the questions Trove can help you answer about the fading signage in your hometown.

Another part of the appeal of ghost signs is with every passing year they get harder and harder to find. Urbanisation has seen a number of older buildings demolished, taking with them these old glimpses into the past. Some ghost sign hunters rush to see a sign just before a building is demolished.
Get in the Spirit
We’re challenging Voluntroves and In-spectres to create public lists in Trove to help trace back the origins of ghost signs. We want you to find photographs of these signs in their heyday and the stories behind them. Share your lists with us on Facebook for other ghost signs enthusiasts to appreciate.
For some inspiration to get started, here’s a list of some ghost signs photographed recently by Voluntroves Philip Mallis and Mademoiselle Couché and added to Trove.
Discover how to create lists in Trove.
Time to sign off!