Old Carters Alphabet

These hand painted letters were created for the fairground style alphabets which feature in Joby Carter’s book, All the Fonts of the Fair. This style of lettering known as ‘Old Carters’ is a style of lettering which was used in various forms on the rides and transport at Carters Steam Fair.
Each letter is one of a kind and hand painted by Joby Carter using enamel paint, finished with genuine gold leaf on aluminium composite board. The final letters were varnished and framed in house and will be dispatched flat in a protective cardboard wrap.

The overall size of the framed letter is 315mm x 315mm x 12mm

These letters were originally available to buy with prices ranging from £150-£250 per letter.

Price includes a signed certificate of authenticity and free UK delivery.

Joby Carter says:

“This lettering style is based on the same Clarendon –style alphabet as Bonnet Side but is inspired by a style of lettering which was used many times through the decades at Carters Steam Fair by several signwriters, all who brought their own unique approach to it. The letters are very ornate and feature scrolls which were a typical fairground flourish in the early days of fairground art. You’ll find scrolls on vintage transport and canal boats too.

These letters were created in several stages using clever brushwork to denote shadow and block. I’ve used enamel paint, gold size mixed with yellow and then gold leaf on the block, all on a bright red background.
Visitors to Carters Steam Fair would have seen variations of this lettering style in multiple places: on our gallopers ride and our transport. I’m sure it’s a style that many would interpret as our visual identity: you always knew when we were coming to town!”