The art of modern book illustration. Favorites

[Черномашенцев Владимир]

I am fond of collecting rare and well-published books, so I would venture to suggest that's a topic:

The art of book illustration. Favorites.

Author of book illustrations often acts as a full co-writer.

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  The difference of gift books from the mass of the product.

Books a lot, but good books are few. Most publishers offer gift edition, made by way of minimal resistance. It is believed that if we take the standard thick book (block) and turn it into an expensive leather-bound with gold-embossed, then that is enough. This is the book for a thousand rubles "transform" into a book for 15-50 thousand rubles. All differences exclusively in the binding. It is ridiculous to see a cheap glossy paper with illustrations of massive, repeated for the tenth time, as a gift for the "new Russian". They (the "new Russian") do not understand the beautiful, but know that it is prestigious. Best, this principle is observed on the example of publishing "White City". There are books for 15 thousand rubles, and next - the same "for the people" for 2-3 thousand (in a different cover). A true connoisseur of such a "masterpiece" does not accept.
As you can see, the main work in these so-called "Gift edition" rests solely on bookbinding.

I acknowledge interesting book only, while the coincidence of several conditions:

1) Limited edition. Maximum 1-2 thousand copies. Better - a thousand. In an ideal - a few hundreds or tens.
2) Interesting illustrations. Ideally, if the illustrations commissioned contemporary artist specifically for this edition with a guarantee of no recurrence. In such a publication illustrator supports equal collaborator, and his name is indicated along with the name of the author.
3) Expensive designer paper and materials correctly selected in the style of a particular book and its illustrations.
4) The work of a good designer in the design of the book. Interesting cover - not necessarily leather, silk or cloth possible.

Years of study of the book market has led me to believe that now in Russia there are only a few publishing houses that specialize in gift books and doing it with talent. All others are just trying to publish the book with great characters. But the maximum of what they may claim, it is just higher prices. But not money.

Showing illustrations by Gennady Kalinouski to Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" ed. VITA-NOVA, 2006, edition of 1200 copies.

The first edition of this book in 2002 was awarded "Best Book of the Year by the Publishers Association and the Grand Prix of the" Book of the Year "at the XV MMKYA and H. Kalinowski for watercolor was named" Artist of the Year.

PS
I urge you to refrain from politics and discussion of national and religious aspects.