12 Vintage Book Covers

This week's post is all about judging books by their covers - specifically vintage books. Older book cover designs are artful and understated. They use illustration and graphic design in such a way that many of them could be blown-up to poster size and still work well. Here's a round up of 12 inspiring vintage book cover designs that use great typefaces, illustrations and color combinations:

This illustration on this cover is creepy. I also like the stacked type in different colors. Image via: www.Bookscans.com This cover looks like an old travel poster. The simple two-color design packs a lot of punch. Image via www.wikifirsteditions.com. I like how the Coliseum, which is a big part of the story,  shows up in the background of this cover. Image via www.Bookscans.com The hat pin sticking into the title subtly underscores the violence at the center of this book. Image via www.manhattanrarebooks.com This cover illustration is classic. The use of color is perfect. Image via www.Coverbrowser.com Francis Cugat's famous illustration for the first edition of "The Great Gatsby." Image via www.Debenblog.blogspot.com The font on the cover is nostalgic and somehow reminiscent of the old South. Image via www.Wikifirsteditions.com Crazy type is fitting for this novel, and I like the colorful cover design. Image via www.Earlybirdcatchestheworm.wordpress.com. Alice has been re-imagined by so many different illustrators and filmmakers. Here is another great character-sketch of her. Image via www.Alexiesworld.blogspot.com Here's another cover that's so interesting, it could easily become a full-sized poster. Image via www.Simania.co.il Brilliant idea to smear the cover of "Lord of the Flies" with a red design that suggests blood and fire. Image via www.Designspongeonline.com. I love that this book was banned and had to be surreptitiously smuggled from reader to reader. The hot pink cover with nude figures speaks to the erotic story inside. Image via www.Bookscans.com.