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Linzie Hunter
Penguin & Pelican Book Covers
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Green
This time last year the V&A had a great (but small) exhibit to celebrate 70s years of Penguin Books.

Paperback books of the same colour scheme were arranged in huge cases which looks pretty stunning.

Originally Penguin pbs had distinctive colour schemes:
orange / white - general fiction
green / white - crime fiction
maroon -  travel series
dark blue - biographies.

Some of the best covers come from the 50s and 60s, with really smart and sometimes bizarre graphic designs.
Nice Title, Nice Cover... a bit like the CBS logo?
The great thing is that these books are pretty easy to pick up in charity shops.   The Pelican* subjects are often very dry and academic, but the covers really make up for it.

I picked up the book above yesterday for a few pennies in a charity shop where I live.

*Pelican Books  was an imprint of Penguin designed to "educate the reading public rather than entertain"
Orange
For anyone wondering about what to add to their christmas wish list the book to accompany the exhibition and Penguins birthday: Penguin by Design is available on amazon.

Also, heres one guy's nice 50s/60s collection on flickr :  Penguin Books
Now buy the book of the books!
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