In the hands of a lesser designer, this would have come off as cheeky. As is, through her excellent typeface selection, subtle inconsistencies, and great negative space, Gabriel Wilson really pulls this into the realm of the elegant and attractive.
—
, 2008-06-05 02:33:00 -0400
The symmetry seems very formal but I like the subtle inconsistencies. What is the author typeface?
This is superb – for all the reasons stated above and because it’s just so incredibly well budgeted. It’s not hammy or overtly minimal. Compositionally, it’s great from top to bottom (i.e. the thick pediment juxtaposes the author’s name). Love the font. This whole thing scream Edward Gorey, which makes it all the more fantastic.
My only beef is on a conceptual level: the fact that this IS a title page (quite literally appearing on a discolored page as though from within a book) acting as a cover, which is somewhat perplexing (though not unheard-of). I wonder how the actual book appears in person; does it appear as though, for example, the cover of the book has been ripped off to bear the title page from within, or is this simply a cover pretending to be something it’s not? and why? Oh well… it’s eye candy in any event.
What is the purpose of the horizontal hatch mark in the center?
Carol Devine Carson’s design for End of America had this feel too. All the fonts, tracking and spacing and the use of the lines with cross lines etc., is very 18th century.
On side note, up until a particular time, book “covers” looked much like this. The actual concept of a book jacket or “dust jacket” was invented in response to keeping these babies protected. Typically these were generic protective covers and then later they acted as a marketing device containing other promotional information. And then, finally, the book cover was born. This is obviously a watered down synopsis, but the general idea is there.
Interesting, to compare the four most recent covers with that old-style look—The Black Death, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Mayor’s Tongue, and The Testament of Gideon Mack (no, Snuff’s 70s aesthetic doesn’t make the cut). As much as I like this one and love Gideon Mack, I’d have to say that The Mayor’s Tongue wins hands down.
By definition, crosses aren’t really seen as being horizontal, although that doesn’t mean the hatch mark can’t be meant to evoke a cross, of course. Crosses that are other than vertical are seen more as marks or signatures, eg, X marks the spot.
Let’s concentrate on the trees.
The hatch mark by virtue of its name could be said to evoke the name of the author. The author would then be represented both inside and outside the morbid framing structure on the cover of The Black Death. This double representation would then parallel both the author’s distance from the events he describes and the intense intimacy he brings to bear on those same events—the author as a being both in and outside of time.
As witness for the prosecution, and from the official Amazon product information review, “Hatcher re-creates everyday life” followed by “Hatcher vividly places the reader directly inside those tumultuous times.”
A sign of well-done design, like well-done art, or well-done anything, is infinite meaning, infinite interpretation.
Back to the forest.
—
, 2008-06-09 11:12:00 -0400
I think the cross on its side is a notch on a timeline that also acts as a decorative element. I am not sick of the faux aged paper look yet. I like the folk art illustration.
Good: I’d like to note that the cover uses a matt varnish (thank goodness they didn’t just go with glossy)
Bad: the typography and illustration look strongly 17th-18th century in style, rather than Medieval (the Black death took place in the 1300s)
The Black Death
In the hands of a lesser designer, this would have come off as cheeky. As is, through her excellent typeface selection, subtle inconsistencies, and great negative space, Gabriel Wilson really pulls this into the realm of the elegant and attractive.
— , 2008-06-05 02:33:00 -0400
The symmetry seems very formal but I like the subtle inconsistencies. What is the author typeface?
— Arthur , 2008-06-05 04:21:00 -0400
looks like a title page from an old book. Nice border. It would be terrific if this was letter pressed on some uncoated stock.
— ian shimkoviak , 2008-06-05 05:01:00 -0400
nice.
— , 2008-06-05 06:28:00 -0400
I think the Font is called Fell Type. Check it out here http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_styles.php?productLineID=100012
— jw , 2008-06-05 06:32:00 -0400
This is superb – for all the reasons stated above and because it’s just so incredibly well budgeted. It’s not hammy or overtly minimal. Compositionally, it’s great from top to bottom (i.e. the thick pediment juxtaposes the author’s name). Love the font. This whole thing scream Edward Gorey, which makes it all the more fantastic.
My only beef is on a conceptual level: the fact that this IS a title page (quite literally appearing on a discolored page as though from within a book) acting as a cover, which is somewhat perplexing (though not unheard-of). I wonder how the actual book appears in person; does it appear as though, for example, the cover of the book has been ripped off to bear the title page from within, or is this simply a cover pretending to be something it’s not? and why? Oh well… it’s eye candy in any event.
What is the purpose of the horizontal hatch mark in the center?
— C-Dog , 2008-06-05 18:41:00 -0400
Carol Devine Carson’s design for End of America had this feel too. All the fonts, tracking and spacing and the use of the lines with cross lines etc., is very 18th century.
On side note, up until a particular time, book “covers” looked much like this. The actual concept of a book jacket or “dust jacket” was invented in response to keeping these babies protected. Typically these were generic protective covers and then later they acted as a marketing device containing other promotional information. And then, finally, the book cover was born. This is obviously a watered down synopsis, but the general idea is there.
— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-06-06 05:43:00 -0400
C-Dog isn’t the horizontal hatch mark a cross?
— Auguste , 2008-06-06 10:48:00 -0400
— Mike Jackson , 2008-06-06 20:34:00 -0400
Interesting, to compare the four most recent covers with that old-style look—The Black Death, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Mayor’s Tongue, and The Testament of Gideon Mack (no, Snuff’s 70s aesthetic doesn’t make the cut). As much as I like this one and love Gideon Mack, I’d have to say that The Mayor’s Tongue wins hands down.
— PF , 2008-06-07 14:22:00 -0400
By definition, crosses aren’t really seen as being horizontal, although that doesn’t mean the hatch mark can’t be meant to evoke a cross, of course. Crosses that are other than vertical are seen more as marks or signatures, eg, X marks the spot.
Let’s concentrate on the trees.
The hatch mark by virtue of its name could be said to evoke the name of the author. The author would then be represented both inside and outside the morbid framing structure on the cover of The Black Death. This double representation would then parallel both the author’s distance from the events he describes and the intense intimacy he brings to bear on those same events—the author as a being both in and outside of time.
As witness for the prosecution, and from the official Amazon product information review, “Hatcher re-creates everyday life” followed by “Hatcher vividly places the reader directly inside those tumultuous times.”
A sign of well-done design, like well-done art, or well-done anything, is infinite meaning, infinite interpretation.
Back to the forest.
— , 2008-06-09 11:12:00 -0400
I think the cross on its side is a notch on a timeline that also acts as a decorative element. I am not sick of the faux aged paper look yet. I like the folk art illustration.
— jW , 2008-06-25 07:16:00 -0400
Good: I’d like to note that the cover uses a matt varnish (thank goodness they didn’t just go with glossy)
Bad: the typography and illustration look strongly 17th-18th century in style, rather than Medieval (the Black death took place in the 1300s)
— Andrew Brozyna , 2008-08-14 08:59:00 -0400
They didn’t have much to offer typographically in the 1300s. I’m assuming that’s why the designer opted for a less ancient aesthetic.
— , 2008-08-14 09:51:00 -0400
If anyone is interested in seeing the border in its original form:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85009674@N00/2844049015/
— , 2008-09-19 02:39:00 -0400
I agree with what you said, Ben. This cover is arresting.
— yapay havuz , 2009-12-03 09:46:03 -0500
garlica
— garlica , 2010-01-20 08:03:17 -0500
biber hapi
fx15
lida
rent a car
magna rx
penis büyütücü
elektronik sigara
— red pepper , 2010-01-28 06:26:22 -0500