The Book of Signs (Dover Pictorial Archive) [Paperback]

Rudolf Koch (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Pictorial Archive | Publication Date: June 1, 1955

Famed German type designer renders 493 symbols: religious, alchemical, imperial, runes, property marks, etc. Timeless.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1955)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486201627
• ISBN-13: 978-0486201627
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Art > Art History > Schools, Periods & Styles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pictoral Review of Signs, May 9, 2000

By 

Memphis - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Signs (Dover Pictorial Archive) (Paperback)

This is, as its title suggests, an expansive collection of pictoral signs primarily from European sources. The signs are beautifully reproduced, but if you are looking for comprehensive genealogies of the signifiers, you should probably look elsewhere. This book has 493 well-reproduced signs, but their histories are minimally documented without any source/ primary documentation of their origins. The signs are described in short, declarative sentences which readers curious about the meaning of the signs might find discomforting. The research here is not without merit or credibility, but the book is for readers interested in signs for their visual grandeur rather than their significance. An interesting and affordable introduction to signs.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heavily Illustrated, July 7, 2001

By 

E. Fegley "eliza" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Signs (Dover Pictorial Archive) (Paperback)

This is a well illustrated book on symbols. I would not call it an essential book for research purposes but it is a nice addition to the library. Some of the symbology is redundant (the furca is illustrated at least 3 times within the book) and I don't find all the explanations agreeable with other resources.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Graphic Historical Reference Book, November 22, 2000

By 

rareoopdvds (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Book of Signs (Dover Pictorial Archive) (Paperback)

Rudolph Kock, graphic designer, typesetter and bookbinder put together these some 400+ signs along with a good historical capsule along each symbol. I found it to be useful when looking up a symbol and to understand some aspect of the sign, although not entirely in full, but a brief understanding of its roots. While not every sign of occultism is assimulated in this book, there is still plenty for one to be satisfied with. Most of the signs are from Early Christian traditions and those that have stemmed from that religion. Orginally these designs were woodcuts by Frik Kredel, Offenbach and Main. The font used to print in the book was created by Koch himself known as magere deutsche type. Originally published in 1930, this Dover edition is worth every penny, for the artist and the occultist.