Civic and Memorial Lettering. By Percy J. Dell Smith. (A.
and C. Black. 10s. 6d.) THE present time is surely opportune for the publication of a good competent book, such as this, on the arts of lettering. Public authori- ties have now both power and the means of raising standards of design of street " furnishings," signs and written or carved inscrip- tions—and urgent need to do so. Good lettering is more than legi- bility. It can, and should, itself be beautiful in proportion, spacing and arrangement, as well as in execution. At its best, lettering is fine decoration. The author is an artist, calligrapher and lettering craftsman of renown. To him, as well as to Johnson and Gill, we already owe much for precept and practice. Architects who pass through the hall of their headquarters in Portland Place know his inscriptions. So, too, do all who have seen the Canadian War Memorial on Vimy Ridge. His book is clear and instructive, well written and adequately illustrated. His patterns are modern, un- affected and refined. The attention he pays to minuscules or " lower- case " letters is admirable. Perhaps the inclusion of some plates of colour contrasts would have been helpful. May the book be read by many, and-reach the workshops of carvers and signwriters, and penetrate into all municipal offices and schools!
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