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Object Timeline

1947

  • Work on this object began.

1993

  • We acquired this object.

2011

2025

  • You found it!

Book Cover, The Longest Journey

This is a Book cover. It was published by New Directions Books. It is dated 1947 and we acquired it in 1993. Its medium is offset lithograph in blue and black ink on off-white shiny wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Functioning like a small poster, a book cover must quickly capture a viewer’s attention and provoke curiosity about the content within, contributing an enduring element to the reader’s experience. The covers designed by Alvin Lustig in the 1940s and 1950s employ abstracted iconography and simple typography and lettering to create emotionally compelling representations of a book’s themes. Lustig, who died at 40, is remembered as one of America’s greatest modern designers.

This object was donated by Tamar Cohen. It is credited Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff.

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 18.2 x 16.3 cm (7 3/16 x 6 7/16 in.)

It is signed

Signed in pritned black ink, lower left: lustig.

It is inscribed

Printed in vertically in white ink, spine: THE LONGEST JOURNEY; in black ink: E M FORSTER. Printed horizontally in black, within white square at lower margin of spine: NC 4. Printed in white ink, front cover right center: e m forster; lower left: the longest journey.

Cite this object as

Book Cover, The Longest Journey; Published by New Directions Books; USA; offset lithograph in blue and black ink on off-white shiny wove paper; H x W: 18.2 x 16.3 cm (7 3/16 x 6 7/16 in.); Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff; 1993-31-165-2

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18734057/ |title=Book Cover, The Longest Journey |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=6 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>