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Briefing for a Descent into Hell by Doris Lessing (Alfred A. Knopf first edition)

Contributed by Patrick Concannon on Feb 11th, 2024. Artwork published in .
Briefing for a Descent into Hell by Doris Lessing (Alfred A. Knopf first edition) 1
Source: historical.ha.com Heritage Auctions. License: All Rights Reserved.

From Wikipedia:

Briefing for a Descent into Hell is a psychological thriller by the British novelist Doris Lessing. It was first published in 1971 and shortlisted for that year’s Booker Prize.

First edition, published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Author’s name and novel’s title on front panel and spine of the dust jacket are set in Green Buzzard C, with blue, red and yellow colored fills. The setting on the spine has been simplified to more basic letterforms and rendered in yellow and blue. For the gilt-decorated white cloth hardcover, the front board features the author’s initials set in Caslon 540 Swash Italic and the spine features the author’s name and novel’s title set in Perpetua, which is also featured on the interior title page.

Jacket design by John Gerbino.

Front panel and spine of dust jacket
Source: www.thirdmindbooks.com Third Mind Books. License: All Rights Reserved.

Front panel and spine of dust jacket

Back panel and spine of dust jacket
Source: www.thirdmindbooks.com Third Mind Books. License: All Rights Reserved.

Back panel and spine of dust jacket

Front board and spine of the gilt-decorated white cloth hardcover
Source: www.thirdmindbooks.com Third Mind Books. License: All Rights Reserved.

Front board and spine of the gilt-decorated white cloth hardcover

Title page
Source: archive.org Internet Archive. License: All Rights Reserved.

Title page

Typefaces

  • Green Buzzard
  • Caslon No. 471 & 540
  • Perpetua

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