Borzoi Books Advertisement

Borzoi Books Advertisement

Alfred K. Knopf considered his Borzoi Books to be of special value. According to Random House, Alfred K. Knopf was interested in publishing books by “the most distinguished writers of the day” and “he wanted to present their work in the most beautiful editions possible." In this advertisement from Knopf, the reader is urged to preserve his or her books and not lend them to a friend. At first, the advertisement cautions that lending books “encourages borrowing, robs the author, and is in restraint of trade,” but goes on to conclude that the “we” at the publishing company “have little cause to complain.” The more important reason not to lend these books is because these books are more than just books. Each individual book is its own work of art, described as such: “It is beautifully bound, to begin with—a piece of real bookmaking—artistic in its covers and typography—and just a little too good to share the fate of an umbrella."

Source: Random House Archives

Random House

Random House

Random House

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