30th Annual of Advertising and Editorial Art of the New York Art Directors Club 1951 [Ladislav Sutnar]

30th Annual of Advertising and Editorial Art of the New York Art Directors Club, 1951. Pellegrini & Cudahy, New York. 8.5 x 11.5, unpaginated (plus trade ads) with English text. Complete design by Ladislav Sutnar. 

An extensive work of reference on American graphic design and advertising published between 1950–51. “Started in 1921, this series provides the only permanent record of the outstanding achievements and year-to-year trends in a field that has been termed the largest and most effective practice of art in America. Selected again by a jury comprising the entire membership of the club, the award winners and other entries in the 30th national exhibition of advertising and editorial art are presented in these pages, an invaluable collection of visual ideas and techniques.”

In the front matter, Ladislav Sutnar gives valuable insight into the design process: “In designing an annual such as this, an ideal condition would consist in allowing each entry at least a full page, thus providing adequate space for illustration of the entry and clarification of its design problem in context. But the limited number of pages and the increase of entries this year, as compared with former years, impose the need for condensation. My desire was to keep visually related material together, according to content, the style or technique of execution, and so on, at the same time endeavoring to prevent one illustration from absorbing or clashing with another...”

Heavily illustrated with a color portfolio and black and white examples of work in: magazine, newspaper, and trade advertisements; direct mail; posters; calendars; record albums; book jackets; editorial; and television commercials. With contributions by but not limited to: Herbert Matter, Erwin Blumenfeld, Saul Steinberg, Bradbury Thompson, Paul Rand, Saul Bass, Cipe Pineles, Lester Beall, and many more important mid-century designers. With an Index and excellent trade advertisements towards the back.

A very good hardcover with light foxing to the still bright yellow cloth covers. Handling and light wear along the edges and small chips to the corners of the dust jacket.