NGS sign writing Journal. We make the most beloved Roman letters.

AUGUSTUS ADAMS GALLERY, PALL MALL, LONDON.

Augustus Adams Gallery | Restoration Gold Leaf Gilding Specialists

‘NGS Adams Font’ and ‘NGS Holbein Font’ | Gold Leafed Roman Capitals by NGS.

Restored and Replicated Lettering

Late Sign master Richard Apps’, Condensed Roman ‘NGS Cornelissen Typeface/Font’, Capitals by NGS.

THE FINEST ROMAN LETTERING IN THE WORLD

LONDON’S TRADITIONAL ROMAN LETTERING MASTERS:

NGS Trajan Catich ‘Truecut’ Typeface Font.

Above: A typeface inspired by lettering masters the original Trajan Column carvers (Rome), Francis Baker (Fulham), Edward Catich (Rome/USA), David Kynaston (Wales) and William Sharpington (London).

Painted at the Plough Mews | Clapham, London 2024.

Researching these Roman Letters

NGS have constantly noted and researched letter styles all over London and the world.

We travelled to Rome and Pompeii since 2017 and researched, restored, and developed 5 rich variations of this classic Roman ‘Trajan’ font.

CONTEXT OF ‘TRUECUT’ TYPEFACE DEVELPOMENT

THE GRANDEUR OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

2000 years of History defining the unique collection of NGS Styles of today.

Living in Parma for 15 years I was constantly surrounded and nurtured by great Roman letters including wonderful examples of Bodoni and Jensen. Great examples from my creative and family homestead from Milan to Venice to Florence.

Visiting Rome in 2018, I saw some wonderful lettering (above image: Monument to Victor Emanuel II) at first hand including these stunning examples of the original Serif and Trajan Capital letters including touching the Trajan Column itself.

MAP STREET VIEWS HERE

The sheer might of clubbing out these fine letters really impressed me, aside from their delicate and inspiring beauty.

In the ancient Roman heat, these ‘all gender’ teams made all of these wonderful letterforms come to life… and shape our world today.

Today in London, we still recreate them faithfully or with subtle variations, NGS renowned Roman Letters, rain or shine.

Top and Above:

Inspired by the renowned Sign writer, Richard Apps’ Condensed Roman Capitals | Font by NGS | Strap lines in Trajan Hispanic. NGS sign writing Journal of Roman Letters.

Gratitude and Friendship

AN ENDURING Love OF classical ‘ROMAN’ type

This page biographises our most special NGS journaled insights, into the making of London’s most unique signs.

Often hidden moments of creative reflection, recollections of far off studies and travels, imagining and finally investing hours of crafting, honing these iconic design versions.

Purely for our Client Use, and often gifts of gratitude and friendship.

CRAFTING THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROMAN LETTERS.

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THE WARTSKI WINDOWS

LONDON’S St. JAMES.

MARGATE’S MOST BEAUTIFUL

‘NGS’ BASKERVILLE TRUE-CUT

ROMANS

Masterstroke Video:

Rolling Italic Roman numbers – on a very cold morning.

I was in conversation with a new client the other day and we were talking about the Roman letter and something came to mind:

I was painting ‘copperplate’ font up in town 2014 and I always had my refinements on the go with it – Jack Hollands my apprentice and I went into a pub called ‘The Sceptre’ in Kensington and there was a lovely gold glass sign behind the bar with a beautiful original example of the font/typeface.

I used those refinements on this layout for Sheen Pottery this morning.

A couple of hours of extra detailing but it was born from an idea 10 years ago.

The design incorporated numerous refinements… here it is below… now becoming our ‘NGS Copperplate Kensington’.

Our Restoration font foundry’s newest member.

RESTORATION FONTS

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THE WOMEN WHO HAND MADE ROME: BY BRICKS AND LETTERS

I was gazing at the Column and saw an exhibition centre with a show depicting the work of the (unacclaimed) women of the Roman era… their work and dedication to the construction of the cities.

75% of the bricks in the Roman Empire were hand made and stamped by women owned factories.

SIGN WRITING LONDON’S ROMANS TODAY

I’m still fascinated of course by beauty of these truly timeless letters.

The earliest examples of the Roman serif letter still exist in our fonts today.

“Heritage? It’s at the very heart of our traditional signwriting at NGS”.

Building the New NGS Roman Trajan Fonts

These gorgeous ‘Trajan’ inspired serif letters above spring out of an era 75Bc when the world spun on a very different axis.

2000 years ago daily life was characterised by hard labour, war and strife. And yet out of these challenging times these letters emerged and survived.

They oozed sophistication back then and continue to do so today.

Next up:

If you enjoy a bit of research…

…some 2000 years on and the Trajan ‘font’ is the most widely used digital letter in the world.

NGS now create new versions of classical Fonts for our special project use.

TRAJAN ROMAN LETTERS

Below: NGS Bespoke Fonts recreate faithfull Truecut Romans to the absolute and finest detail.

Above NGS Trajan Capitalis Font.

@THE V&A

Our inspirational reference points: The incredible plaster cast of the original ‘Trajan’ letters. Inspired by these treasures and painting letters all over London – NGS.

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The massive Trajan Column plaster cast in the V&A London. Such a coincidence that Signwriting Jack and his family walked into the gallery at the same moment!