Wio, Leokadio! Polish book illustrations
Since the 1950s Polish illustrators and publishers have been recognised for their unique and high quality work. During a recent trip to Krakow I spent lots of time in second hand and art gallery book…
Posts Categorised: Found/Ephemera
Hema Dutch Matchbox Labels
HEMA is a Dutch store that sell homeware often made by the chain itself with original design. Founded in 1926 the store is still going strong. These wonderful 1970s matchbox labels illustrate their wide range…
Vintage Bulgarian lottery tickets
I have Tobias Frere-Jones to blame for this new obsession. His new Conductor font is influenced by Vintage Bulgarian lottery tickets and I have to agree they are things of beauty. He told me French…
Happy Birthday Sputnik
Happy Birthday Sputnik! A celebration of 50 years with vintage matchbox labels from the Maraid collection.
Modernist Magazine: Issue 22 Games
I met Jack and Eddy from the Modernist Magazine at a print and publishing fair, we got chatting about concrete and design and ten minutes later I was on their contributors list. For the theme…
MATCHBLOC and It’s Nice That
I was recently interviewed by It’s Nice That about MATCHBLOC, an Instagram project with Present and Correct. We also announced the forthcoming book – keep an eye out next year!
The design of Diagonal Records
Diagonal Records is a small label run by Oscar Powell and Jaime Williams, it was originally set up as a vehicle to release Powell’s music. They soon started releasing work by an eclectic range of…
Mikhail Lermontov illustrated poems
I recently realised these 1960s matchbox labels were illustrated poems by Mikhail Lermontov while translating them for Matchbloc. Lermontov, born 1814, was a Russian romantic writer, poet and painter who died at the age of…
MATCHBLOC
We have teamed up with the lovely Present & Correct to bring you MATCHBLOC, daily Instagram offerings of Eastern Bloc graphic design goodness in the form of matchbox labels.
David Gentleman’s illustrations for New Penguin Shakespeare books
For years I’ve bought Penguin paperback books for their cover design. In 2013 I came across a copy of the ‘The Rape Of Lucrece’ by William Shakespeare and instantly thought it was the most arresting…
Read more about David Gentleman’s illustrations for New Penguin Shakespeare books