Strangest Book Covers Ever Published in New Collection
Rare book expert Brian Lake who runs Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers in London has put together a compilation of the strangest book covers in history in his new book Librorum Ridiculorum A Compendium of Bizarre Books.
The titles range from fairly scatological humour and titles which reflect how language has changed over the last 100 years, to niche ones such Fish Who Answer The Telephone, Recipes for Grass, How To Be Happy Though Married, Frog Raising for Pleasure and Profit, and Banana Circus which features a banana posing as a seal.
Lake, who has been involved in the two book trade associations as chairman of the P.B.F.A., president of the A.B.A., and chairman of the A.B.A.’s Annual London Book Fair, says his premise for the book was “does the cover make me laugh – and still laugh?!” Or as he also describes it “an exploration of the most eccentric titles and covers from our past that have inexplicably fallen out of print but should never be forgotten.”
Each title is presented in full original color with illustrative artwork and short background text.
Librorum Ridiculorum – A Compendium of Bizarre Books by Brian Lake is published by HarperCollins, hardback, 128pp,100 color illustrations.
