ymbols and ymbolism

Collections of Images in Print Sources

Legend:  Text only = Source only has text descriptions and narratives;   = Source has graphics and text;   = Source has only graphics, any text is limited to labels

 Image collections in print resources:   The publications which follow are focussed on images, some with only images with minimal labelling and others with detailed background notes, even interpretations and bibliographies.

•   The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism; Moon, Beverly, ed.  An Encyclopedia of Archetypal Symbolism  Boston: Shambhala, 1991. 
  ARAS, an organization for collecting images related to analytical psychology (Jungian) and the interpretation thereof, produced this volume of images and their interpretations. The organization resulted from the Eranos meetings of scholars in the mid-twentieth century and developed into collections of thousands of images.  Within this book, each image includes a narrative description of the image, cultural context, archetypal commentary, bibliography, and glossary.  Contents:  Cosmos and creation; Center of the World; Sacred animals; Monsters; Goddesses; Gods; Sacred marriage; The divine child; Sacred kingship; Saviors; Heroes and Heroines; Duality and reconciliation; Revelation; Death; Transformation.

    The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism, and Elder, George R.  An Encyclopedia of Archetypal Symbolism, vol 2.  Boston: Shambhala, 1996.    BL603.A72 1991

  The second volume in the series looks at representations of the human body.  Again, each image includes a narrative description of the image, cultural context, archetypal commentary, bibliography, and glossary.  Contents:   Primordial Body; Bones; Skin; Head and Hair; Eye; Ear; Hand and Arm; Respiratory and Digestive Systems; Heart and Blood; Sex Organs; Foot and Leg; Transformed Body.  As in volume 1, the full-page photographs are magnificent in themselves; when the background and commentary are added, the encyclopedia becomes something very special.

    Biedermann, Hans.  Dictionary of Symbolism.  New York:  Facts on File, 1992.  Translation by James Hulbert of Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole.  465 pp.    AZ108.B5313 1992.

    ____________.  Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole.  Munich:  Droemer Knaur, 1989.  591 pp., 3-426-26400-5.    AZ108.B53 1989.

  This dicitonary of symbolism treats with the concept of symbolism and symbolic themes, not just graphic images.  Despite this, it also includes many images among the alphabetical entries.  Includes a multi-lingual bibliography, a graphic index, and a verbal index.  Geographically, it covers the whole world, with examples from many different cultures.  Please, note, the English translation shortens a few entries, especially the examples, and leaves out some illustrations.  (Cf. "Robber" with "Räuber."   In addition to leaving out the illustration (of Germanic relevance), curiously, the reference to the American robber, Jesse James, is left out of the English translation although it is in the German!)  Some entries also give the Greek and Latin equivalents. 

    Bruce-Mitford, Miranda.  The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols.  New York:  DK Publishing, 1996.  128 pp.    AZ108.B78 1996.

  The "Introduction" of this book presents a complete, if simplified, introduction to symbolism and the studies of symbols and signs.  Arranged within 4 major categories (Mythologies &. Religions; Nature; People; and Symbol Systems) are pages of signs and symbols with simple, brief descriptions of their significances.  Heavily illustrated in full color; includes a glossary, index, and bibliography of "further reading" suggestions.  Unfortunately, the bibliography seems biased against European culture, not even listing Frazer's The Golden Bough in either edition. 

    Cirlot, J. E. (Juan Eduardo).  A Dictionary of Symbols, 2nd ed.  Translated by Jack Sage from Diccionario de Simbolos Tradicionales.  New York:  Philosophical Library, 1971.  419 pp.; 0-8022-2083-5    [HK252]

  ANNOTE

    Cooper, J. C.  An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols;  London:  Thames & Hudson, 1978.  BL603 .C66

  A straight-forward dictionary of symbols and related terms, with 210 illustrations.  Includes a separate glossary and bibliography.  The introduction in this book forms a splendid introduction to the study of symbolism in general and its application to life.

    Ferguson, George.  Signs & Symbols in Christian Art.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1954; papaerback, 1961.  192 pp.;0-19-501432-4.  [PP219]

    Fontana, David.  The Secret Language of Dreams:  A Visual Key to Dreams and Their Meanings.  San Francisco:  Chronicle Books, 1994.  176 pp.; 0-8118-0791-6.    [PP261] BF175.5.D74F66 1994.

  A lavishly illustrated book that begins with a brief history of dream research, then summarizes Freudian and Jungian psychology (with illustrative dreams by each of the two men.)  The book continues by describing aspects of dream symbology and giving illustrative dreams with their interpretations.  Concludes with a limited bibliography, notes on the text, dream index, and subject index.

    __________________.  The Secret Language of Symbols:  A Visual Key to Symbols and Their Meanings.  San Francisco:  Chronicle Books, 1993.  192pp.; 0-8118-0462-3.    [PO201] BF458.F56 1994.

  Another heavily illustrated book, dealing with symbology and individual types of symbols.  In addition to details about specific types of images, the author discusses types of symbolism, such as mazes, numbers, and colors, as well as describing specific symbol systems such as alchemy, the Kabbalah, Tantra, etc.  The sections on astrology and the tarot go into more detail about specific symbols than do the others.  The book concludes with a glossary, "further reading," and index.

    Frutiger, Adrian.  Signs and Symbols:  Their Design and Meaning, translated by Andrew Bluhm.  New York:  Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989.  360 pp.    P99F78 1989

  A print designer's view of basic symbols, signs, and signals, and what their design means.  Frutiger notes an interesting relationship between ages and symbols, signs, and signals. (Frutiger, 345)  Frutiger, a master typographer, has put much effort and thought into what is involved in signs and symbolism; this book shows the results, not only in how designs change, but what combinations can signify.  This is a great survey of how alphabets developed and spread; it contains many variations of basics signs and what the variations mean; it follows a developmental pattern and, probably, covers more ground than any one book should.  Nonetheless, its examination should be considered one of the most essential by anyone studying typography, signs, or symbols.  Contents:  The three major "parts" (each of which could be a separate book) are: 1: "Sign Recognition, Sign Formation"; 2: "Speech-Fixing signs"; 3: "Sign, Symbol, Emblem, Signal."  The latter part, most relevant for this essay, includes: "Introduction"; "From Illustration to Symbol"; "The Symbol"; "The Graphic Wealth of Figurative Symbols"; "Abstract Symbols"; "Signs of Pseudoscience and Magic"; "Signature Signs"; "Signs of Community"; "Trademarks"; "Technical and Scientific Signs".  The volume ends with "Toward a Synthesis," "Epilogue," and a bibliography. 

    Gibson, Clare.  Signs & Symbols:  An Illustrated Guide to Their Meaning and Origins.  New York:  Barnes & Nobles, s.d.; Originally published, Saraband Inc., 1996.    160 pp.; 0-7607-0217-9.    HP086]

    Koch, Rudolf.  The Book of Signs:  Which Contains All Manner of Symbols Used from the Earliest Times to the Middle Ages by Primitive Peoples and Early Christians.  New York:  Dover Publications, 1955; reprint of publikcation of the First Edition Club of London, 1930.  Translation by Vyvyan Holland.  104 pp.; 0-486-20162-7    ]PK254]

    Lehner, Ernst.  Symbols, Signs, & Signets.  New York:  Dover Publications, 1969; reproduction of edition published by World Publishing Co., 1950.  221 pp.; 0-486-22241-1.    [PK131]; AZ108.L4 1969.

    LeMieux, David.  The Ancient Tarot and Its Symbolism:  A Guide to the Secret Keys of the Tarot Cards.  Cranbury, NJ:  Cornwall Books, 1985.  206 pp., 0-8453-4714-4.    [HM147] BF1879.T2L42 1984.

    Liungman, Carl G.  Dictionary of Symbols,  Santa Barbara, CA:  ABC-Clio, 1991.  English translation of Symboler--västerländska ideogram.  Malmo:  Merkur International KB, 1974.  [HO160] BL603 .L5413 1991.

  A narrative dictionary of non-iconic signs in an organized structure, with several essays and a bibliography at the beginning before the "Ideographic Dictionary."  Includes a word index and a graphic index.  The latter is very useful when you remember a basic form but wish to study it in more detail, for this index guides the user to the appropriate category.  Unfortunately, this dictionary uses a reduced meaning of symbol:  "Any object can be called a symbol as long as a group of people agrees that it means more than just itself." (Dictionary, 5)  In his introduction, Liungman defines several terms in addition to "symbol."

    Robinson, L. J.  A Dictionary of Graphical Symbols.  London:  F. C. Avis, 1972.  360 pp.    AZ108.R6.

  Published without an introduction or explanation, this is a simple dictionary of graphics, from the printer's/typographer's viewpoint.  Each alphabetical entry has a graphic, a definition, or both.  The first entry under each letter is the letter itself, with examples given in upper and lower case in four different fonts.  At the end of the volume is a "Graphical Guide," to help those looking for a graphic for which they do not know the name. 

    Shepherd, Walter, comp.  Shepherd's Glossary of Graphic Signs and Symbols.  London:  J. M. Dent & Sons, 1971.  596 pp.; 0-460-03818-4.    AZ108.S53.

    Speltz, Alexander.  The Styles of Ornament.  New York:  Dover Publications, 1959. Translation by David O'Connor of second edition of Ornamentstil, 1910. 

  In addition to some introductory material, primarily a collection of designs from architecture, illustrations, alphabets, furniture, etc.  More than 3,700 illustrations from varied cultures and times, some of which reflect symbols and myths.

    Thompson, Philip, and Davenport, Peter.   The Dictionary of Graphic Images.  New York:  St. Martin's Press, 1980.    BF458.T45 1980

  This is a collection of modern graphics, mainly advertisements and magazine covers, that the authors/editors present as an extension of historical graphic symbols.  In addition to displaying the images, arranged by topic, the authors analyze each in a symbolic context.  The "Index and Credits" section is simply a credits section arranged by the person's name.  The text includes some peculiar cross-references and lack thereof.  This volume provides one of the few attempts to collect current and recent graphic images as illustrations of symbolism. 

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