Cloth binding for ‘Pioneers of the Sea’

Anonymous designer

[1914]

Cloth binding

7½ x 5¾ inches

This is a cheap imprint for a mass juvenile audience which closely reflects the impact of Art Nouveau aesthetics. The radiating stems are typical of the style, while the stylized flowers are reminiscent of the work of Talwin Morris and the conventions of the Glasgow School. These elegant compositions, produced by anonymous designers, are characteristic of book-art of the early part of twentieth century, selling texts by presenting them in appealing bindings.

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Photograph and text by Simon Cooke

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