As a book collector and a book seller, I have often purchased a book just because the dust jacket art caught my eye. In this terrific new book, The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970, author Martin Salisbury explores the transition from plain paper dusk covers to book jackets designed by skilled artists and illustrators whose aim was to promote interest in the book.

The fascinating book includes not only iconic dust jackets, but also obscure book cover art that has been all but lost. Salisbury has wisely chosen to focus on fifty British and American artists, designers, and illustrators who worked  mainly during the half-century between 1920 and 1970. Happily, he has covered some of my favorites, including Milton Glaser, Ben Shan, Edward Gorey, Tove Jansson, and Mervyn Peake.