Known Designers in This Exhibition

For those with no available image, their binding in this collection has been used to represent them.

Margaret Armstrong

By far one of the most widely known and collected, Margaret Armstrong created over 300 covers in her career. She began designing book covers in 1890, and was well-known for her use of symmetrical patterns, bright colors, and use of gold. Her signature is an interlocking "MA". 1

Maurice Prendergast

Mostly known for his work as a post-impressionist painter, it appears that he also did some work with book covers. He's known for his scenes depicting people outdoors: in the park, by the sea, etc. 2

Alice C. Morse

An incredibly talented artist who had previously studied painting and stained glass before designing book covers. She is one of the most well-known women designers of the day. Her signature is her initials "AM", either conjoined or separate. 3

Samuel M. Palmer

Unfortunately, there is not much known about this binding designer. His signature is "SMP".

Emma Redington "Lee" Thayer

Emma Redington was initially hired to work for the Decorative Designers, a small company that ran from 1895-1932 that designed a multitude of book covers. In 1909, she married the founder of the company and changed her name to simply "Lee Thayer". During her time there she assisted with several designs while also making many of her own. All bindings made by this comapny, and subsequently Lee Thayer, are signed "DD". 4

Bertha Stuart

Not much about Bertha Stuart is known outside of her work on bindings, of which she made around 70 throughout her career. She worked for various publishers from 1904-1913, and was known for her strong designs, often in gold on dark cloth. She signed all of her works with her initials "BS", often written vertically. 5

Adrian Iorio

Adrian Iorio started his career working for a publishing house in Cambridge, Massachusetts before later opening his own business. His designs are very detailed make use of bold lines and colors. His signature is his initials "AI" together. 6

Thomas Watson Ball

One of the most well-known designers, Thomas Watson Ball created dozens of beautiful bindings. He was known largely for his use of silhouettes and his love of the sea, which are often depicted in his designs. His designs are unsigned, but easily recognizeable. 7

  1. Minsky, Richard. The Art of American Book Covers: 1875-1930. New York, NY: George Braziller, 2013. 18-19.
  2. “Maurice Prendergast.” Smithsonian American Art Museum. https://americanart.si.edu/artist/maurice-prendergast-3875.
  3. Minsky, 12.
  4. Minsky, 14.
  5. “Bindings Designers in PBO: Biographies and Examples.” Publishers’ bindings online. https://bindings.lib.ua.edu/designers2.html.
  6. “Bindings Designers in PBO: Biographies and Examples.” Publishers’ bindings online. https://bindings.lib.ua.edu/designers2.html.
  7. Minsky, 16.