Aleksandr Rodchenko (Russian, 1891-1946)

Some cool Constructivist book cover designs from the late 1920s and early 30s from the Museum of Modern Art.

Aleksandr Rodchenko, L'Art Décoratif et Industriel de L' U.R.S.S 1925

Aleksandr Rodchenko. New LEF: Journal of the Left Front of the Arts), no. 12, 1928

 Aleksandr Rodchenko No. S. (Novye stikhi) 1928

Aleksandr Rodchenko, Novyi LEF. Zhurnal levogo fronta iskusstv (New LEF: Journal of the Left Front of the Arts), no. 6, 1928

The work of Yasuhiro Hanamori (1911 - 1978)

Here's a Japanese Graphic Designer I hadn't heard of. I love the simple beauty of his style. Visit this wonderful blog, dedicated to his work. 

"Guide to Marriage" 1954 Cover by Yasuharu Hanamori

"Twelve Chapters Concerning Women" 1954

"A Woman's lifetime" cover 1959  Yasuharu Hanamori

"Kite Oshita Uda" 1948 

 "Handbook of Living" Yasuharu Hanamori 1955

"Obi" 1947

First edition Dr. Seuss books

I wish I had my old Dr. Seuss books now, but alas, they went the way of most abandoned childhood things. So, I'm thinking of re-acquiring some. Here are some first editions. They're pricey now, so if you collect, seek out some slightly later editions. That's what I do with most books I collect, often going with later editions or later printings of firsts. Lots of early editions can be found on eBay. Heritage Auctions has some interesting editions, some signed by the author.

"New socks. Two socks. Whose socks? Sue's socks." Fox in Socks. Beginner Books, A Division of Random House, 1965. First edition. 

"I’ll load up five boats with a family of Joats / Whose feet are like cows, but wear squirrelskin coats, / And sit like dogs, but have voices like goats— / Excepting they can’t sing the very high notes." If I Ran the Zoo. New York: Random House, [1950]. This one sold for $1314. on Heritage Auctions

Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat. [New York]: Random House, [1957]. First edition. Signed by the author in blue ballpoint via

"In the places I go there are things that I see / That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z. / I'm telling you this 'cause you're one of my friends. / My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!" Dr. Seuss. On Beyond Zebra. New York: [1955]. First edition, first issue dust jacket. via

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York: [1957]. First edition, first issue dust jacket. Sold for $437

Here's a really early one that I wasn't familiar with. "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" New York: The Vanguard Press, 1937. sold for $1195 on Heritage Auctions

H.G.Wells

H. G. Wells. Meanwhile. George H. Doran, August 1927. FirstAmerican edition, first printing.

 

The Croquet Player by H.G.Wells 1937 via abebooks.com

 

H. G. Wells. When the Sleeper Wakes. Harper & Brothers, 1899. First American edition, first printing. via

Dell No. 269 - The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells. Cover art by Gerald Gregg via swallace99 on flickr. Lots of nice Gregg covers to be found here.