You Can Judge A Book By Its Cover

I have to admit it. There are times when I buy a book strictly based on its cover. Personally, I'm drawn to covers that are whimsical and artistic as well as those that incorporate decorative motifs. And many times, to my surprise, the books themselves prove to be interesting and entertaining. Here are some striking covers of books that have caught my eye. I can't attest to the quality of the books themselves, but if the "inside" isn't worth it, then at least you'll have an attractive book to display.


"The Savoy Cocktail Book", 1930. I'm a sucker for an Art Deco cover, and I find this one especially intriguing. Makes me pine for the cocktail hour of yesteryear.


"The Blue Danube" by Ludwig Bemelmans (1945). How can one not be charmed by Bemelmans' iconic covers (illustrated by none other than the author himself!)?


"Costumes from the Forbidden City" by Alan Priest (1945). Yes, this book has a beautiful cover, but its subject matter- the imperial robes of the Ch'ing dynasty- appears to be quite interesting too!


"How to Do It, or the Lively Art of Entertaining" (1957) by Elsa Maxwell. How terrible is this cover? So bad in fact that this book is cherished by book collectors alike. I have the recently rereleased edition, and I can attest to the fact that this book is a fun read (I can't remember if a recipe for doughnuts is included, though).


Book at top: "Interior Decoration" by Margaret Lord. A bit reminiscent of a David Hicks cover, this book was published in 1944. Margaret was ahead of her time!