http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=11597
21 designers were asked to create new versions new covers for all 21 of Vladimir Nabokov's novels. Called "The Specimen Box Project," because Nabokov was an avid butterfly collector, each book is presented in its own specimen box.
I love this because I'm a sucker for aesthetically pleasing copies of books I adore. Even though I know it's what is inside the cover that counts, I do think one day (when I'm an "adult" with spending money) I'd like to collect gorgeous copies of my most cherished books.
At any rate, looking at pictures of 18 of the 21 novels, I realize how much I need to read more Nabokov that isn't just Lolita - which isn't even pictured among the 18 shown.
My favorite new covers are The Enchanter, Glory, Pale Fire, but my very favorite is probably this one:
In a kind of related vein, Kyle Page is opening a collectible book store, Blind Willow, in Emmaus. Let's visit on your break.
ReplyDeletethis is a really cool project. I've never imagined that designing a book cover could be an important artistic project, because I too like to focus on whats in between the binding. But if you think about it, we are all creatures of human nature, and will pick up something aesthetically pleasing upon first glance as opposed to something which is not. Just a different way to think about books...
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