The Art of Book Design: Extracts from Adam’s Diary

Mark Twain. Extracts from Adam’s Diary. Illustrated by F. Strothmann. New York, Harper & Bros., 1904.

Today’s first edition Twain is another submission from Marcus. Adam’s Diary is a satirical and lighthearted look at Adam’s early days in the Garden of Eden. I’m including a few of the drawings from the book, mostly for comparison with the drawings from tomorrow’s book. You won’t want to miss that!

Extracts from Adam’s Diary, Frontispiece by F. Strothmann.

Extracts from Adam’s Diary, page 2.

Extracts from Adam’s Diary, Page 6.

Extracts from Adam’s Diary, Page 14.

Extracts from Adam’s Diary, Page 68.

Cover photo via Marcus Ranum (Stderr)

The book is available to read at The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: Extract from Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven

Mark Twain. Extract from Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven. Cover design and frontispiece by Albert Levering. New York and London, Harper Brothers, 1909.

Today’s book by Mark Twain was submitted by Marcus, and he’s holding his own first edition copy of the book. I love the artwork on the cover, and since the frontispiece illustration is similar, but with more detail, I’m including that as well.

Extract from Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven. Frontispiece by Albert Levering.

Cover photo via Marcus Ranum (Stderr)

The book is available to read at The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: A Dog’s Tale

Mark Twain. A Dog’s Tale. Illustrated by W.T. Smedley. New York, Harper Bros., 1904.

Cover photo via: Biblio.com

Available to read at The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: Editorial Wild Oats

Mark Twain. Editorial Wild Oats. Illustrated by F. Strothman. New York and London, Harper Brothers, 1905. First Edition.

via: The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: The Jumping Frog

It’s Mark Twain week here at The Art of Book Design, but maybe not the Mark Twain you’re expecting. I’m going to feature first editions of some of Twain’s less famous works throughout the week, and on Saturday I’ll be sharing one of my favourite books of all time in an extended post that will include lots of pictures. Let’s leap into the week (groan) with The Jumping Frog.

Mark Twain. The Jumping Frog. Illustrated by F. Strothman. New York and London, Harper and Brothers, 1903. First Edition.

Mark Twain. The Jumping Frog. Illustrated by F. Strothman. New York and London, Harper and Brothers, 1903. Original dust jacket.

Cover Photos via: Books Tell You Why.com

The Story can be read (in a different edition) at The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: Love is Enough

William Morris. Love is Enough; or, The Freeing of Pharamond, a morality. Boston, Roberts brothers, 1873.

via: The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: The Now-A-Days Fairy Book

Anna Alice Chapin. Illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith. The Now-A-Days Fairy Book. New York, Dodd Mead Company, 1911.

The fairy book this week is a short one with only 2 illustrations, but the story is charming and the artwork is sweet. I’m in love with the picture of the teddy bears, but the monkey is pretty cute, too. Enjoy.

The Now-A-Days Fairy Book, page 38.

The Now-A-Days Fairy Book, page 68.

Holidays: Sagrada Familia: I’m Sorry, I Broke It

Here’s the last pics from our night out. After that, Instead of walking back the short way to the train station we got off, the family voted to walk to the Plaza Catalunya and we got a bit lost on the way. We managed to catch the last train home which was kind of strange because you’d think that trains from the capital to the bigger cities around it would run through the night, especially on a Saturday, but shortly after midnight the train service ceases for the night. On that train I had one of the more frightening experiences. A young dude was standing in the aisle and suddenly took out a dagger style knife. I didn’t say a word, especially not to the tired kids and extra especially not to the dude so I wouldn’t catch his attention. He started “stabbing” the side of the train and I started to make plans in case of emergency, like putting my camera rucksack in front of my body and shifting my position to cover the kids.

Thankfully he then used his knife to cut off the top of a plastic bottle, took out some cheap wodka and lemonade and got even more drunk than he was before.

OK, back to the Sagrada Familia. I have no clue what happened here. I guess the light and the structure and the 2D nature of photography are playing a trick, because it definitely didn’t look like this, or I would have noticed.