Frank Atkinson Books

[Dave Dubé]

Have the Frank Atkinson books "Atkinson's Scene Painting and Bulletin Art" and "A Show at Shocards" available reprinted? My Dad and I did shocards for local nightclubs in the 50's and 60's and I'd never heard of Frank Atkinson, although Dad did subscribe to Signs of the Times. The two books I've mentioned are of interest to me.

[Robare M. Novou]

Heres a listing for The Scene Painting Book.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDet ... 1174470791

RMN

[Robare M. Novou]

Or you could get this one....

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDet ... 1194009931


RMN

[Robare M. Novou]

And don't forget, if you have the original...you are gonna need this one also.

http://www.amazon.com/Atkinson-Reproduc ... 094409404X

RMN

[Robare M. Novou]

And checkout this link....

http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 176&ref=bf


I think you need a sign book search guide.

RMN

[Bob Ficucell]

Boy $800 for Sign Art I had that book and it was signed by Atkinson!! and sold it! Dumb , Dumb, Dumb

[Dave Dubé]

I took one look at the price for that one and decided I need to go into the old book business, Bob! I think I'll buy the reproduction that Robare suggested, though.

[Bill Masters]

Bob I bought that signed book from you. Thanks it completed my Atkinson collection.

[Bob Ficucell]

Bill,
Glad you got it, I know it will be appreciated! Bob

[Mike Jackson]

Dave,
Frank wrote quite a few books on sign painting. The two you mentioned are okay, but not as good as his "Atkinson Sign Painting" book. Maybe I should say the other two are not illustrated to the same degree and are mostly text. Neither of them have been reprinted as far as I know. His "Last and Final Book on Sign Art" was more of a compilation of plates from other books (not necessarily his designs), though he included some formulas and techniques in it worth reading. It is a pretty good book, but if you already own a lot of other books, you may have already seen the plates.

M. Jackson

[Dave Dubé]

Mike,

I don't own a single sign painting book. I got my training on the job before I even knew how to read. I inherited my dad's kit when he died, but I also had one of my own which I still have - I just haven't used it in forty years. He had no books. He did subscribe to Signs of the Times, which I dog eared and read cover to cover as soon as they came. I picked those two because the titles appealed to me. I'm actually glad you suggested that I post the question here, because I now know what I should be looking for of the ones available that are actually in my price range. I certainly expected that the Shocard book would have plenty of plates to admire, but apparently that isn't the case.

[Mike Jackson]

Dave,
Look for H.C. Martin's "1000 Practical Show Card Layouts...and Color Sketches".

It is probably more loaded with what you are expecting in the other book. I did a quick flip through the Atkinson Show at Sho Cards and reconfirmed what I remembered. Mostly text...little in the way of inspiring plates.

The Martin book was printed in 1928 and again in the '70s or '80s by Signs of the Times. You should have no problem picking up that book.

M Jackson

[Kent Smith]

I agree about Martin's book, and the reprints are as complete as the original. I learned most of my early layout concepts from Dad's original signed edition and interesting color combinaitons detailed. Note that the illustrations are black and white but colors are described. Henderson's, Halstead and Strongs all reprints with good illustrations as well.