But, in this soberly presented book, with no dustjacket to shout its message at casual buyers, thomas tanselle puts forward a powerful case, one that too often goes unexpressed and one that will affect every reader in the future. In thomas tanselles definitive study of book jackets, you find examples that go back even further. He was vicepresident, john simon guggenheim foundation, 19782006. Thomas tanselle born 1934 is an american textual critic, bibliographer, and book collector, especially known for his work on herman melville. Bookjackets of the 1890s 211 bookjackets of the 1890s by g. Bookjackets or dustjackets, as they are often called, along with other detachable book. In thomas tanselles definitive study of book jackets, you find. Thomas tanselle s most popular book is mobydick or, the whale. Since 1971, when bookjackets, blurbs, and bibliographers, the first of his major essays on dust jackets, appeared, tanselle has been writing about the failure to preserve book jacketsby collectors, by dealers, and by institutionsand how that failure has affected the study of books and book history. When its time to spruce up my house, i always seem to get a new post idea, like this one today. A brief history of the dust jacket books tell you why, inc. G thomas tanselle the present work offers a concise history both of publishers detachable book coverings primarily british and american and of the attention they have received from scholars, dealers, collectors. They first came to exist in the 1820s7 and according to g. Their history, forms, and use, tanselle reminds us that paper coverings for books are much older than is commonly.
If you have books on display throughout your house, do you keep the dust jackets on, or do you remove them. The jackets in the collection are from books published in the united states and europe during two turbulent decades. Collection of book jackets nypl digital collections. I feel these dust jackets are an important part of our culture. Tanselle s lists of early dust jackets or anywhere else. Thomas tanselle the adoption of book jackets by publishers in the englishspeaking world has produced what may be the most striking and durable change in the appearance of their books since the introduction of cloth editioncasings in the. Henry gott, the book collector godburns book is a key contribution to our understanding of not only the dust jackets themselves, but also the individuals, institutions, and economic currents that created them, and is deserving of a place in any booksellers. The dominant art deco design trends of the early years are evident. The dustjacket of tanselles book nicely illustrates this. A series of series 20thcentury publishers book series.
Godburn doesnt mention this dust jacket, and he doesnt mention other dust jackets printed in colour before 1900. For collectors of book jackets tanselle s list is a wants list, especially to american collectors. Thomas tanselle has 41 books on goodreads with 6039 ratings. Indeed he says that the scrutiny and description of jackets is a responsibility for bibliographers if they are to be concerned with the whole book. Thomas tanselle, it was likely these sheaths that gave prominence to the idea of a detachable publishers covering. Special recognition, among others, is accorded to charles rosners pioneering the growth of the book jacket 1954.
Their history, forms, and use 2011, but the entry doesnt quite make it clear that the jacket is pictorial. Today, in addition to finding dustjackets on cased books, they are also. In march 1970 tanselle read a paper to the bibliographical society, entitled book jackets, blurbs and bibliographies published in the library, v, 26 1971, 914, in which he rightly regretted the general neglect shown for book jackets by booksellers, collectors, and bibliographers. The dust jacket sometimes book jacket, dust wrapper or dust cover of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations. Those titles included in it are around 80% american imprints, because, after all, tanselle is an american who lives and works and buys books in the states. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new.
Bookjackets or dustjackets, as they are often called, along with other detachable book coverings such as slipcases, have been regularly used by publishers in the englishspeaking world and some countries of the european continent since the early part of the nineteenth century. Throughout, the illustrations and titles mirror the eras changing political concerns and desires. The tanselle collection of american imprints brings together the output of more than fifty trade publishing houses operating between 1891 and 1930 in the united states that accepted innovative or socially progressive work, i. Since 1971, when book jackets, blurbs, and bibliographers, the first of his major essays on dust jackets, appeared, tanselle has been writing about the failure to preserve book jackets by collectors, by dealers, and by institutionsand how that failure has affected the study of.
I am beginning to suspect that probably at least 90% of all books published after 1890 were issued in dust jackets. Anthony rotas book jackets in his apart from the text 1998. Naval institute provides an independent forum for those who seek to advance and strengthen the naval profession. Tanselle is generous in acknowledging prior dust jacket scholarship. Tanselle clearly indicates the value of the description and analysis of nineteenthcentury bookjackets. All i need is the height, width, and spine width of your book. One bibliographer in the juvenile arena imaginatively used successive publisher addresses found within books to identify edition priorities. Their history, forms, and use, tanselle reminds us that paper coverings for books are much older than is commonly imagined. The adoption of book jackets by publishers in the englishspeaking world has produced what may be the most striking and durable change in the appearance of their books since the introduction of cloth editioncasings in the 1820s. Thomas tanselle, former vice president of the john simon guggenheim memorial foundation and adjunct professor of english at columbia university, is president of the bibliographical society of the university of virginia and coeditor of the northwesternnewberry edition.
Nineteenthcentury dust jackets is very satisfying in terms of its form and method. However, since it is itself relatively fragile, and since dust jackets have practical, aesthetic and sometimes financial value, the jacket may in turn be wrapped in another jacket, usually transparent, especially if the book is a library volume. Bookjackets of the 1890 1890s bookjackets of the 1890 1890s by g. In addition to its promotional role, the dust jacket protects the book covers from damage. These pages document a personal collection of around 3000 books with dust jackets in over 450 different publishers book series published from the 1890s through the 1980s.
No books all jackets state facsimile dust jackets l. Thomas tanselle almost available from oak knoll, we thought you might like to read an interesting blog article related to dust jackets. This outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book covers. Prior to the 1820s, books were unbound sheets with disposable board covers. Noted jacket collector ken leach once wrote to thomas tanselle, the worlds. Tanselle does not mention one dustjacket attribute, not often seen but potentially valuable, the publishers address.
The books are appealing as they allude to a largely undocumented history of personal, home library books for readers of. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Nevertheless, by 1900 book jackets were becoming ubiquitous. Thomas tanselle beating the drum, as it were, for book jackets. Thomas tanselle he adoption of bookjackets by publishers in the englishspeaking world has produced what may be the most striking and durable change in the appearance of their books since the introduction of cloth editioncasings in the 1820s. Since 1971, when bookjackets, blurbs, and bibliographers, the first of his major essays on dust jackets, appeared, tanselle has been writing about the failure to preserve book jacketsby collectors, by dealers, and by institutionsand how that failure has affected the study of books and. A journal of vanity, keen observation and dissidence. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions.
I knew of the existence of the jacket from the admirable listing of known pre1901 british and american jackets given in thomas g. Thomas tanselle examines dust jackets as resources for biography, bibliography, cultural analysis, and development of graphic design, while surveying their use by publishers and scholars of literature, art and book history. Thomas tanselle and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles. Their history forms and use written by robertbirnbaum. The royal engagement pocket atlas, 1778, came with a detachable book. Noted jacket collector ken leach once wrote to thomas tanselle, the worlds foremost authority on dust jackets. What to do with book jackets reluctant entertainer. Their history, forms, and use by thomas tanselle, bsuva 2011. Thomas tanselle, in his book jackets, their history, forms and use 2011 had selected this dust jacket for. Indeed, typographer ruari mclean asserted that the sheath can be called the progenitor of the book jacket, since its function was to attract and protect.
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