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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Ox-Tales Elements Series

Design by Jonathan Gray

Rob Around Books beat me to it by a few hours while I was waiting for the designer's name from Profile Books, but since I already had it queued up, check out the design for this four-book collection of original stories meant to raise money for Oxfam. Rob's got the details, over at his post.







11 comments:

JRSM said...

These are beautiful--I'd not even heard of them before.

By the way, re the Faber book cover book, if I might commend you here: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780571240012/Faber-and-Faber-Eighty-Years-of-Book-Cover-Design -- It'll cost you only US$27, with free postage.

The Oxen of the Sun said...

These are so great!! I wish there was a way to see all the authors involved, though... on RobAroundBooks he mentions 38 authors are involved. Too bad only 5 fit nicely on each cover.

I want to place an order immediately, thanks so much posting these.

Unknown said...

The original idea was to have five or six stories in each book - but (1) the stories came in quite short, and (2) 38 authors responded to our request. So we had a rethink and used a repeat pattern on the back to feature the other contributors. Selections were ruthlessly democratic, so big names are as likely to appear on the back as the front. The design is integral to the books: we were looking to create something that doesn't feel like a charity project and which is (hopefully) covetable and collectible.
Mark Ellingham, Editor, Ox-Tales

Alison said...

These are just lovely.

Anonymous said...

Someone was looking at Lustig's New Directions cover for The Wanderer...

http://alvinlustig.com/bp_nc/bp_nc.php

Ian Koviak said...

I was just gonna say—Lustig. Really nice stuff. Love the playful hand done type.

jon gray said...

alright, I copied a leaf shape. Guilty as charged. Good work Anon.

Unknown said...

Just one more word from me, as editor. The Ox-Tales books are a project for Oxfam, the international aid charity (www.oxfam.org). The idea is partly to raise awareness of their work (we have slipped in an account of an area of Oxfam's work into each book, as an afterword) and partly to raise money for them. We are publishing the books into the regular trade, priced £5, and hope to sell 100,000 copies. But we are also doing a very beautiful, limited edition box, signed by all of the authors: 150 copies will go on sale at £495. If anyone is interested in being kept posted on this, please do email me: mark@sortof.co.uk. All the profits of the boxes will go to Oxfam's work with the world's poorest people.
Mark Ellingham, Editor, Ox-Tales

Lori Rader-Day said...

Want.

Anonymous said...

Auuuuugh!!

Listen People. Google “Book Cover Design Blogs”. This book blogging thing is getting way out of control. I’m all for freedom of speech but this market is more saturated than government TARP funds. The gig of promoting of one’s self or others through the guise of “information” is UP!

I know, I know, This blog was here long before others, but the spawned droids run amok!

OK, back to work!

Joseph said...

You realize I'm going to have to post this anon comment as a post, right? :-)