1928
These covers come from Bookcover Design in Japan 1910s-40s (ISBN 4-89444-426-7) edited by Masayo Matsubara. Published in 2005 by PIE Books, this incredible book is already out-of-print and becoming hard to find (it was actually hard for me to find and I spend hours per day searching for rare books). This book is in Japanese only, but of course you need it for the 650 illustrations.
Many of the images in the book are small, so it was fun blowing them up through hi-res scanning. Click for much larger versions.
Next week I'll post Japanese magazine covers from the same time period (link added 6/16/09).
Many of the images in the book are small, so it was fun blowing them up through hi-res scanning. Click for much larger versions.
Next week I'll post Japanese magazine covers from the same time period (link added 6/16/09).
1940
1927
1923
1929
1928
1937
1928
1940
1944
1931
Takeo Takei, 1924 (previously covered)
1928
1928
1928
1928
1928
1927
1928
1922
1929
1913
17 comments:
beautiful.
exquisite... thanks for posting.
They're all amazing and strange but third one is just completely insane and undoubtedly my favorite! thanks a lot for scanning hi-res treasures
very nice. and in full color at that!
Really lovely and great to be able to see them large.
Why do most of them not have any text on them?
oh, and by the way, your site is magnificent. It is such a treat to see these near-lost illustrators and design work.
Thanks all.
Ian, from memory, all 650 illustrations are in color (don't you wish every art book was like this).
Don, some of these must be back covers, though I like to think at least a couple are text-free covers.
If someone chimes in with details I'll update the post.
thanks so much for posting these ...have given me so much enjoyment
'Extraordinary' is right (for both this and the follow up entry). I would not have picked some of the particularly avant-garde illustrations as Japanese if I saw them out of context and free from the script. It's a testament to their graphic design prowess - albeit, lesser known - for sure. Thanks Will, great post as always.
Thanks peacay. I was hesitant to use "extraordinary" (usually I let the images speak for themselves), but I have been drooling over this material for a couple months so went for it.
What a beautiful and inspiring collection of vintage yet timeless designs. Such color and beauty and balance. Thanks for the wonderful post.
I took a few minutes to browse through your blog and I love the angle you have created; forgotten illustrators, lost designs, human treasures. Keep up the amazing work and thanks again for the inspiration.
That's incredible, thanks.
Exquisite. I ♥ the lizard and I have great distaste for reptiles. The symmetry of the girl with her head in her hand is lovely.
A beautiful and inspiring collection of designs that demonstrate the sensitivity and variety early twentieth century Japanese designers applied to their work. Thankyou for sharing them. I am new to your blog and have just begun exploring the archives. So far, you rank up there with Bibliodyssey.
Fantastic and wonderful blog.
So far I've had no luck finding this one online!
d
such beautiful things you post!
thanks so much
effing brilliant
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