This rich treasure trove of twentieth century Batsford book covers showcases the very best of this venerable publisher’s design heritage.

Founded by Bradley Thomas Batsford in 1843, Batsford has forged a strong reputation for niche publishing, in subjects such as textile art, practical art and craft, architecture and design, heritage and chess. Batsford books are both accessible and beautiful, and their quality means they sell for years, often decades.

The covers in this beautiful book have been chosen from the extensive collection of book collector Paul Dimond. The collection includes the iconic covers of Brian Cook, which are recognised and collected worldwide, as well as beautifully tooled cloth bindings, Art Deco gems, mid-century architecture titles and quirky designs from the 60s and 70s. Rich with stunning photographs of these iconic jackets, The Book Cover explores the development of book cover design over the twentieth century.

This book is a labour of love that showcases the very best of Batsford’s design heritage and will delight book collectors and design enthusiasts alike.

Paul Dimond CMG is a former British diplomat. He was a language student in Tokyo in the 1960s, then served for 16 years in Japan, including four years as Commercial Counsellor. He was later Deputy Ambassador at The Hague, HM Consul-General at Los Angeles and HM Ambassador at Manila. A collector of vintage Batsford books for 35 years, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Honorary Secretary of the Anglo-Netherlands Society. He lives in London.