Deco Type: Stylish Alphabets of the '20s & '30s

By Steven Heller, Louise Fili

{ Buy at Amazon }

Designage: The Art of the Decorative Sign

By Arnold Schwartzman

{ Buy at Amazon }

This book is a beautiful collection of storefront signage from Europe and the United States. Most of the signs in the book were hand-crafted in the late Victorian, art nouveau, and art deco periods. Instead of organizing them chronologically, however, Schwartzman divides them by materials, such as mosaic, paint and wood, and metal. Although the main subject of the book is the typography, it's also a helpful reference for weathering details. (Bart Marable)

Global Color Combinations

By Leslie Cabarga

{ Buy at Amazon }

Living Colors: The Definitive Guide to Color Palettes Through the Ages

By Margaret Walch, Augustine Hope

{ Buy at Amazon }

Thinking with Type : A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students

By Ellen Lupton

{ Buy at Amazon }

Typology: Type Design from the Victorian Era to the Digital Age

By Steven Heller, Louise Fili

{ Buy at Amazon }