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The
2002 mission statement of the AIGA states that the organization seeks
“to further excellence in communication design as a broadly defined
discipline, strategic tool for business and cultural force.” Founded
in 1914, the AIGA has sponsored hundreds of exhibitions of the graphic
arts. In 1925, they awarded the first of many medals to individuals
with a lifelong contribution to the graphic arts. The first of the AIGA
Fifty Books of the Year awards and exhibitions was held in 1922-23.
“The purpose of the annual exhibition of the Fifty Books of the Year
is to demonstrate the principles of good design and craftsmanship in
the manufacture of contemporary American books.” In the late 1940s there
were approximately thirty five calligraphers actively working who could
not only letter, but design and deal with technical aspects of book
production.
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THE
ROYAL HUNT
Pierre
Moinot, Translated from the French by Ralph Manheim; New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, 1955
Charles
Skaggs created the typography, binding, and jacket design for this
book, chosen as one of the AIGA Fifty Books of the Year in 1955.
The Skaggs Collection includes the printed book with book jacket,
a pristine copy of the book jacket, and a copy of the AIGA Fifty
Books of the Year exhibition catalogue. Note the drawing of a borzoi
dog above the publisher’s name on the title-page. Alfred A. Knopf
published a series of “Borzoi” editions over the years, commercial
publications produced with great attention to type, design, illustration,
and bindings.
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THE
DISTRICT DOCTOR
AND
OTHER STORIES
Ivan
Turgenev
Emmaus,
Pennsylvania: Story Classics, 1951
This
book, with typography and binding designed by Charles Skaggs, was
selected as one of the Fifty Books of the Year by the AIGA in 1951.
The lettering on the binding and on the title page is also by Skaggs.
The illustrations are by Marvin Bileck.
Bileck
(born 1920) in New Jersey, studied art and architecture at Cooper
Union in New York City. He chose to use “a moving, economical pen
line [to] parallel Turgenev’s humble style.”
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Bileck’s
handwritten note to Charles Skaggs, dated June 30, 1951, also is
displayed here. Bileck writes an enthusiastic response to the completed
book: “I have just received the finished Turgenev. The design is
most beautiful and complete … The binding has the feeling of the
era—if this is re-incarnation —you probably designed wallpaper for
Russian drawing rooms in 1850.”
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THE
BEGGAR AND
OTHER STORIES
Anton
Chekhov
Emmaus,
Pennsylvania: Story Classics, 1949
This
is another of Charles Skaggs’ designs which was selected as one
of the Fifty Books of the Year by the AIGA, this time for the 1950
exhibition. The typography, decorations, lettering, and binding
design are all by Skaggs. The illustrations are by George W. Rickey.
The cloth binding is stamped with genuine gold and red roll leaf
stamping.
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