Object Timeline

1989

  • Work on this object began.

1996

  • We acquired this object.

2015

2025

  • You found it!

Book Cover, Literal Madness: 3 Novels

This is a Book cover. It was designed by Jo Bonney and written by Kathy Acker and published by Grove Press and Wheatland Corporation and photographed by Michel Delsol. It is dated 1989 and we acquired it in 1996. Its medium is offset lithograph on paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was donated by Steven Heller. It is credited Gift of Steven Heller.

Its dimensions are

20.9 × 30 cm (8 1/4 × 11 13/16 in.)

It is signed

Printed in black, lower left: Cover design by Jo Bonney / Cover photograph by Michel Delsol

It is inscribed

Printed in white ink inside a black box, upper right: "Literal Madness"[underlined] / is Acker at her / most powerful, / disturbing, and / provocative." / –Catherine Texier

Cite this object as

Book Cover, Literal Madness: 3 Novels; Designed by Jo Bonney (Australian, active USA); Written by Kathy Acker (American, 1947–1997); Published by Grove Press, Wheatland Corporation; Photographed by Michel Delsol (French, active USA); USA; offset lithograph on paper; 20.9 × 30 cm (8 1/4 × 11 13/16 in.); Gift of Steven Heller; 1996-74-11

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18656033/ |title=Book Cover, Literal Madness: 3 Novels |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>