The Open Highways Readers

Three book covers from the 1968 "Open Highway Readers" series of short stories for kids. The cover illustrations are attributed to Bradford / Cout Graphic Design.

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Judging Books by their Covers, Madison edition

I spent the weekend in Madison, Wisconsin and had time to check out a few used book stores. I came across a few gems, but here are some photos of some of the books I didn't take home with me.


Lovely illustration with non-flamboyant Avant Garde typeface.


A typeface thesaurus with Serif Gothic (also designed by Avant Garde desiger Herb Lubalin) type for the title.


I thought this book was gonna be about coin collecting but it was actually a sleight-of-hand instructional manual. Hilarious. I can't remember the name of the font in the title but I think I have the Letraset sheet at home.


Whoever layed out this type HANDLED IT. So so fresh. This was also the first time I'd ever seen the word "equipotential."

Beards by Tom Carnase

It's hard for me to make a claim like this, but this book cover for a pressing of Reginald Reynolds' 1949 book "Beards," might be my favorite type treatment ever. It's gorgeously drawn by Herb Lubalin's colleage Tom Carnase, it's funny, it's concise, it's perfect.

More book covers

Once again, Adam Garcia came through, this time sending over some super hot book cover designs he found online. Checka check it out.

Judging Books by their Covers

In Philly, my dude Adam took me to this great used book store. We were buggin' over all of these dope book covers. The winner is clearly BACKGAMMON. Bright orange cloth with gold foil debossed Baby Teeth title and nothing else? Yes please.