Irish Book Covers from the 30s
Illustrator and designer Niall McCormack shared these covers with me. He runs a blog dedicated to Irish book covers from the 1920s to the 70s (go there), and somehow we started emailing about Harry Clarke and his influence in Ireland, which led to this post.
Niall writes that, "The books were all published by either Oifig An tSoltáthair or Oifig Díolta Foillseacháin Rialtais which were both Irish government agencies" and directs us to this exhibit for more background about publishing in Irish during this period. (You can also see more covers there.)
The designers he was able to identify all studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art: Austin Molloy, George Altendorf, Olive Cunningham, Michael A Keane, and Victor Penny. Niall again:
Austin Molloy attended the college along with Harry Clarke and the two visited the Aran Islands together in 1909 while still students.
Harry Clarke taught illustration and layout at the college from 1918–23 and when he retired from the position Austin Molloy took on the role.
The other designers all attended the college during the twenties under either Clarke, Molloy, or both.
I would love to someday explore the archives of the school, now named the National College of Art and Design. Anyway, the covers:
Oifig An tSoltáthair / A Dúthchas Gaedealach (Her Irish Heritage) /
Annie M.P. Smithson /Olive Cunningham / 1938
Oifig Díolta Foillseacháin Rialtais / Séideán Bruithne (Typhoon)/ Joseph Conrad / Unknown / 1935
Oifig An tSoltáthair / Cuaird an Domhain i gCeithre Fichid Lá (Around the World in Eighty Days) /
Jules Verne / Michael A Keane / 1938
Oifig An tSoltáthair / Cineadh an Cheo / H Rider Haggard / Unknown / 1939
Oifig Díolta Foillseacháin Rialtais / Saontacht an Athar de Brún / C.K. Chesterton / P ??/ 1937
Oifig Díolta Foillseacháin Rialtais /Flatha na hAlban (The Scottish Chiefs) / Jane Porter / Victor Penny / 1937
Oifig An tSoltáthair / An tOileán Corghruanach (The Coral Island) / RM Ballentyne / Unknown / 1939
Oifig An tSoltáthair / An Seachtar Codlatán / Francis Beeding / George Altendorf / 1939
Oifig An tSoltáthair / Críocha Fiadhaine an Tuaiscirt/ Sir William Butler / Unknown / 1938
Oifig An tSoltáthair / Conntae An Chláir / Seán Ó hÓgáin / AÓM – Austin Molloy / 1938
Oifig Diolta Foilseachain Rialtais / An Chloch Órtha (The Talisman) /
Sir Walter Scott / George Altendorf / 1936
Oifig Díolta Foillseacháin Rialtais / Maria Chapdelaine / Louis Hémon /Victor Penny / 1933
Oifig Díolta Foillseacháin Rialtais /Ivanhoe / Sir Walter Scott / Olive Cunningham / 1937
Oifig An tSoltáthair /An Fáidh Dubh (The Black Prophet) / William Carleton / Unknown /
1940 (but in the vein of the 30s covers)
Some covers from the BU Exhibit mentioned above:
