Symbols, Signs and Signets (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)

I am currently taking a graphic symbolism class and I found this book to be useless. It does not even have the meaning on the symbol listed on the same page as the drawing which makes it hard to use as reference material. Also, even though the book is a fairly decent size it does not contain a wide range of symbols, signs, or signets. It might be a good reference if this is your first book exploring the subject. I would not recommend to advanced readers on the subject.

This is one of my favorite books on symbols
only thing is the description or title of the symbol
is listed at the beginning of each chapter I found it
annoying always having to flip back but still love this
book

I am primarily interested in Christian symbolism and this book has quite a few, though not meant as an exhaustive resource on any particular set of symbols. I enjoyed the broad range of symbols this book presents - Mayan, Egyptian, metaphysical, Asian, and even some hobo symbols (plus lots more). This book is truly a good general reference for symbol meanings. It is a bit sparse on the origins of the symbols, but certainly supplies enough information to get my interest piqued in different symbols!

Dover Publications scores yet again! This book hits a home run with bases loaded for many reasons.

First, it is jam-packed with thousands of symbols, signs, marks, inscriptions and engravings. All are in black and white, and all are excellent quality.

Second, the book presents a fascinating range of symbols, organized by subject, including: Symbolic Gods and Dieties (included are Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek/Roman, Nordic and Aztec Gods), Astronomy and Astrology, Alchemy, Magic, Church and Religion, Heraldry, Japanese Crests, Cattle Brands, and a large section containing some of the distinctive marks of the medieval european craftsman/guild marks and signets.

Third, this is a surprisingly useful reference. For writers, historian, artists, and the incurably curious, here is a book that sets out, for example, all of the alchemical signs for the materials (gold, silver, etc) and alchemical processes, a host of Catholic and other ancient christian religious symbols, nice engravings of all the important Egyptian gods, etc etc.

Highly Recommended.

This book has over 200 pages of various symbols, ranging from simple drawings to intricate designs. They are arranged in historical order, begin with various gods and end with hobo signs. Each chapter is preceded with a list of references (the signs are identified by number) and the symbols included are grouped like so:

Symbolic Gods & Deities; Astronomy & Astrology; Alchemy; Magic & Mystic; Church Religion; Heraldry; Monsters & Imaginary Figures; Japanese Crests; Marks & Signets; Watermarks; Printers Marks; Cattle Brands; and Hobo Signs.

There are over 1350 illustrations contained in this book, and all are crisply printed in black and white. Each section has a short blurb in front of it, but not an extensive history. This book would appeal to history lovers, graphic designers, and other symbol geeks. And for the price, it's worth buying.