Most Wanted: Book Covers

[Perpetual Man]

As I have mentioned in the past I have started trying to rebuild my library, having had to sell many books years ago for financial reasons.

I have been slowly replacing them and have found the experience fun, rewarding and perhaps even educational.

On the plus side it's great to see books I have not owned in years appearing on my shelve again.

On the downside is the condition of some of the books.

It seems as though there is no genuine consensus on what exactly a Very good condition book is (as an example).

But as far as this thread goes:

Covers: Particularly hardback book covers. The dustjackets have turned up from between as new to used toilet paper.

In some cases I have been trying to restore them, but unfortunately there are those cases where there is not enough to even use as a base template.

I wondered if anyone knew of a website where comeplete covers are archived, or if anyone who had a particular book might be prepared to scan and post or send me a digital copy?

For example, the first book I am after a jacket for is: The Day After Tomorrow by Robert Heinlein

 

[Extollager]

Perhaps of interest to you:

Search Results for: SciFi/Fantasy/Supernatural

 

[tinkerdan]

Just about every book cover I've tried to find has been on-line somewhere. It may not be the best quality all the time;however I've managed a bit.
There are two book I have that I made my own covers for. Perhaps later I'll show the images.

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

There are two book I have that I made my own covers for. Perhaps later I'll show the images.

Please do; as one who has dabbled in the dark arts of cover illustration and design, I (at least) would be very interested to see them.

But since we are speaking to the matter of collecting book covers: not too long ago, I managed to obtain some original proofs of the Josh Kirby covers for Strata, Mort, and Sourcery, in mint condition. Boy, was I a happy bunny!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Here's the one that I am working on at the moment.

On the grand scale of things the condition is not as bad as some others, and to be honest it is not the best cover ever produced. (I much prefered the Pan paperback versions).

But the edges are worns, the white on the flaps has coloured, there are bad creases where the jacket has been folded, the colour has degraded where it has been in the light and the bottom of the 'spine' is scuffed/torn/ripped.

 

[Perpetual Man]

And here's the version I'm actually working on

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

Oh, I see; you're reconstructing it. That's brilliant. (And why have I never thought of doing that? When the wear and tear has progressed too far, I usually just stick Tamiya masking tape on the creases at the spines, to stop fronts and backs falling off. Not an attractive solution, even when done carefully.)

Do you scan and repair the image digitally? Or do you redraw the illustrations by hand?

 

[Perpetual Man]

I have been reconstructing, using every tool I can find to do the job.

I use the original cover as much as possible, combined with pictures found online if they are needed.

In the above cover, the spine and front are a decent image found online, the flaps and rear are from the original, any little blemishes I have used photoshop.

I have not even considered redrawing the illustrations, that is a challenge for another time.

 

[Perpetual Man]

This is another one - again I think the cover is a weaker one, but it looked like this:

There is a lot of wearing and scuff marks, the edges are badly damaged and there is a rip running through the front cover

 

[Perpetual Man]

The 'new' version was put together using the original cover, an image of the front downloaded off the net, and a lot of time cutting and pasting on photoshop

 

[Perpetual Man]

The next one is to be Heinlein's day after tomorrow, but I have no cover at all to work from, so a different type of challenge entirely.

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

Talk about 'labour of love' … I applaud you.

How are you printing these? I mean, some of them must be bigger than the average desktop printer. Longer, at any rate.

 

[Perpetual Man]

They are, and as much as I would like I have yet to find paper big enough (and a printer) to print direct to size, so I have been printing in two parts, then joining using Book binding glue and book tape.

 

[tinkerdan]

As threatened:: here is one of the covers
I may not have mentioned I did the covers back in the late 60's early 70's
Using pen and ink. The original one to Egg Shaped Thing was mangle upon deliver from the book club.

 

[tinkerdan]

I can't find the original to this one: Later in the late 80's early 90's I used a computer to cut and drop part of the original pen and ink which was done in red,blue, and black inks. The original background was all black ink-if i remember correctly. I put in the moon and earth and printed it on a Hp printer using 8.5 by 11 paper. However I think this one was printed later using a higher resolution inkjet; however I can not find the JPG file used. I'm still searching for the original done all in ink by hand and on a long piece of art paper.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I did this a few years ago with Bruce Pennington's wonderful illustrations for The Book Of The New Sun.
Thank goodness for Photoshop!

 

[Perpetual Man]

As threatened:: here is one of the covers
I may not have mentioned I did the covers back in the late 60's early 70's
Using pen and ink. The original one to Egg Shaped Thing was mangle upon deliver from the book club.
View attachment 45751

You hand drew that? Brilliant!!!!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Just finished another, and this one is slightly different as I had nothing to start with

 

[tinkerdan]

Back when my hands were steadier.

You hand drew that? Brilliant!!!!

This cover inspired a pencil sketch that never made it to cover status.

 

[K. Riehl]

If you don't have the skills of Perpetual Man and just want a nice DJ. This website has over 12,000 pre 1976 covers in the appropriate sizes.
$22 per cover.

Facsimile Dust Jackets, LLC

I have at least a dozen from this site for my Burroughs books.