Old Tavern Signs: An Excursion in the History of Hospitality

Long before google maps or neon billboards, travelers relied on symbols hung outside to signal safety and rest. This early 20th-century excursion into the history of hospitality traces those marks of welcome back to their origins: the ancient duty to shelter strangers, the sacred obligation that predates even the inn. Endell moves through literature and visual art, unpacking the rich symbolism embedded in tavern signs across centuries. These were not mere advertisements but declarations of civilization itself, promises that weary travelers would find warmth, fire, and protection from a hostile world. From the biblical roots of hospitality to the medieval tavern, the author reveals how a picture hanging on a chain could mean the difference between life and death for those on the road. The book captures a world where welcoming the unknown was considered a divine duty, not merely good business. For readers fascinated by material culture, the hidden histories of everyday objects, or the strange pathways by which ancient customs survive into modern life.