On display are over 1,000 unique book covers and memorabilia narrating the extraordinary story of Penguin covers and their rich and diverse design heritage.
Co–owner Kare Wai admits, “Even before the establishment of our store, we trawled flea markets and secondhand bookstores in Singapore and overseas and amassed a sizeable collection of Penguin books.”
Among the collection are series of rare books from the publishing behemoth’s early days in the 1930s and 1940s. These include the blue-spine Pelican series containing original non-fiction writing from the likes of George Bernard Shaw, and displaying a flying pelican logo on the cover and spine that was designed by Edward Young, Penguin’s first production manager.
The Puffin Picture Books which were published under the guidance of Eleanor Graham in 1940 are also showcased. These were actually introduced to provide cheap reading material for thousands of city children facing wartime evacuation.
And it’s not just musty, old books—recent additions to the Penguin family like the highly coveted edition of D H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover with an immaculate cover remixed by Brit fashion doyen Paul Smith in 2006 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the controversial novel, are also exhibited.
Even for novice bibliophiles, the mass of paperback jackets and memorabilia has special significance as it charts the development of British publishing, book cover design, and the influential role of artists and designers in creating and defining the distinctive Penguin aesthetic.
Catch An Ode to Penguin from Jul 8-16 at the Arts House, 1 Old Parliament, 6332- 6900. $6-9 from BooksActually, 6222-9195.
