This book is the first comprehensive study of the entire history of of illustration in America. It is based upon the exhaustive bicentennial exhibition organized by The Society of Illustrators and shown at the New-York Historical Society. That exhibition gathered more than 900 examples of the best original works of art created for reproduction and virtually all of them are in this book, about 350 of them in full color. --book jacket.

This stunningly illustrated book examines the history of poster design and its relation to the arts and broader culture. The poster is a versatile marketing tool widely used from the 19th century to today for everything from political events to movies. A good poster has many layers, it goes beyond advertising and makes statements about style, history, fashion, and taste at the time. It is these layers that can turn a poster into a work of art. This book showcases 480 posters by more than 200 artists and designers and tells a comprehensive history of the poster. The book includes Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Pop art, and contemporary posters from preeminent artists such as Alphonse Mucha, Egon Schiele, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol and from noted designers ranging from Lucian Bernhard and A.M. Cassandre to Saul Bass, Tadanori Yokoo, and Stefan Sagmeister. The book also introduces many other leading poster designers whose names are less well-known. Contemporary advertisements for Calvin Klein, United Colors of Benetton, and Coachella are also explored. By tracing the history of the poster, this book shows social developments throughout the world and illuminates how art styles have changed over time.

Graphic designers will enrich their understanding of American type design and type designers with this unique and extensive reference. The fascinating history of type in America is chronicled through the typefaces and biographies of sixty-two of the most influential type designers, including Linn Boyd Benton, Morris Fuller Benton, and Darius Wells, and through the description and history of nine American type foundries. Complete with samples of 334 different typefaces, and 700 black-and-white illustrations, this eye-popping reference reveals the expansive contribution America has made to the world of type design.