New Salinger book designs
The Creative Review blogged this week about type designer Seb Lester's designs for Salinger reprints. Lester was commissioned by Hamish Hamilton (part of the Penguin group) to create a set of book covers for Salinger's books: Catcher in the Rye, For Esme With Love and Squalor, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour. Above are Lester's sketches for Catcher.
"It turns out that JD Salinger had some very basic (and strict) rules about how he wanted his book covers to look. He was adamant that the only copy that should appear on his books was his name and the title of the book. No quotes or plot summary, no author biography. And definitely no marketing blurb. Just the title and his name."
The four reprints were originally due to be published in June. The pub date has, however, been moved up to March 4.
"It turns out that JD Salinger had some very basic (and strict) rules about how he wanted his book covers to look. He was adamant that the only copy that should appear on his books was his name and the title of the book. No quotes or plot summary, no author biography. And definitely no marketing blurb. Just the title and his name."
This finished product was approved by the author before his death last month. The typeface, designed by Lester, is known at Hamish Hamilton as 'The Salinger.' Said Lester, "The inline treatment and style of flourishing have echoes of classic typefaces and lettering from the mid-twentieth century period when the books were written."
The four reprints were originally due to be published in June. The pub date has, however, been moved up to March 4.
