∞ Penguin 75, 2022
Paul Buckley, ed., Liu Yunqian, translated
Penguin 75
Designers, Authors, Commentary
Penguin Random China × CITIC Boundless | CITIC Publishing House
Imaginary Animals cover design story
Author: Jorge Luis Borges
Designer: Jesse Malinov Reyes
Illustrator: Peter Sith
Artistic Director: Paul Buckley
Editor: Michael Millman
Andrew Hurley
When it was decided that edward Gorey would be the perfect fit to create the illustration, I was giddy with the idea (which was not my usual state). I've loved Gorey's paintings for many years and have a collection of all of his works for New York publishers, including covers designed for Anja Press in the 1950s and 1960s, and works independently published at the highly respected Gotham Bookstore in New York, which are limited-edition signature editions and are very precious. At the same time as I signed the contract, I had already started discussing the cover design with Gorey and working out a schedule. In the meantime, less than a week, Gorey died.
Works by Edward Gorey
A few years later, the book's editor, Michael Mirman, re-took imaginary animals from his bookshelf and brought in an equally good artist, Peter Sis. The Czech artist is known for his illustrations for award-winning children's books, and most of his works are about folklore. While the Sith's works aren't as creepy as Gorey's, they share the same sweet scent, combined with a dark quality. This gives them amazing power.
Works by Peter Sith
When I started designing, I thought of it as a long-lost book. The background design of the cover, spine and back cover is in the old 19th century decorative binding style.
I used a border pattern to show the painting on the cover and unified the secondary title with the gold inlay of the border. Then we photocopied an 80-year-old Letterart alphabet book, spelling out the title and author's name from the letters in the alphabet. This gives the typeface a more unique look, making it look old and mysterious. Finally, we printed the cover on heavy, uncoated paper. The whole scheme is an application of historical illusions, like those illusory creatures recorded by Borges.
The Book of Imaginary Beings
Penguin Classics Deluxe，2006
Illustration of Penguin 75: Behind the Scenes of Classic Cover Design
Revised cover according to viking press hardcover edition
Translator: Andrew Hurley
Peter Sith was a great fit for creating illustrations for Borges's book, so we sweated nervously when he was considering whether or not to take on a task. This "antique" cover, with its worn-out leather cover and faded gold trims, is a perfect fit for Borges's work.
Claimed to be one of the most important collections of animal fables from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, his work is a mixture of science, fantasy, wonder, and horror, like a book one fantasizes about finding in Borges's private library. (The deliberately worn skin on the spine is genius!) ）
Claimed to be one of the most important collections of animal fables from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, his work is a mixture of science, fantasy, wonder, and horror, like a book one fantasizes about finding in Borges's private library.
—Translated by Borges | Liu Yunqian
—Reading and Rereading—
Behind the Scenes of Penguin 75: 75 Classic Cover Design, 2022
Penguin 75：esigners, Authors, Commentary
CITIC Unbounded Editorial Office
Caption: Cover of Borges's poetry collection
Poems of the Night，2010
penguin.com Street