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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 Great Gatsby

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 on glossy white 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 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Book Cover (USA)
  • lithograph in purple and black ink on white shiny wove paper.
  • Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff.
  • 1993-31-165-14
  •

Its dimensions are

18.8 x 16.3 cm (7 3/8 x 6 7/16 in.)

It is signed

Signed in printed black ink, front cover lower right: lustig.

It is inscribed

Printed vertically in black ink, spine: THE GREAT GATSBY, printed vertically in grary ink, spine: F.SCOTT FITZGERALD. Printed horizontally in black ink, spine lower margin within white square: NC 9. Printed in black ink, front cover upper center right: F. scott Fitzgerald. Printed in white ink, front cover center: the great. Printed in black and white ink, front cover center right: GATSBY.

Cite this object as

Book Cover, The Great Gatsby; Published by New Directions Books; USA; offset lithograph on glossy white wove paper; 18.8 x 16.3 cm (7 3/8 x 6 7/16 in.); Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff; 1993-31-165-5

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18734063/ |title=Book Cover, The Great Gatsby |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=6 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>