I recently happened across a few random issues of the “London Mystery Magazine” (later “London Mystery Selection”). Interestingly, these covers seem to be a mixture of UK and US editions of the same title.

Apart from being a jolly good read, I have a certain admiration for the rather splendidly designed covers. These issues are from the 1950sand 1960s, so they were perhaps a little ‘old fashioned’ even at the time.  That said, they are now, and I suspect were when published, undeniably eye-catching.

That said, they are now, and I suspect were when published, undeniably eye-catching. To me, they demonstrate that good design can easily supplant today’s glossy photographic covers and perhaps they demonstrate that being a little ‘out of time’ can actually make a piece of design more eye-catching.

Just a thought!

PJL