Cloth binding

Aubrey Beardsley.

1894

A smooth yellow cloth binding with blocking in black ink made by brass dies.

8 x 6¼ inches

Beardsley at his most outspoken: a perplexing combination of vulgarity and sophistication, menace and humour. This is the cover design for The Yellow Book’s first volume, and sets out to baffle, intrigue, and scandalize the original readers: an efficient selling of wares.

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Photograph and text by Simon Cooke

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