When I found that British Railways booklet a while back it was really this one that I was interested in, attracted by its cover. As it turned out, the other one was much more interesting inside but the cover of this one uses that classic 50s/60s colour overprint technique.
In essay number four of Michael Bierut's book he talks about having something cool-looking to do when you can't come up with any other solution – sound advice if you ask me. Well, I have to admit that a psuedo-classic 50s/60s colour overprint technique is what I do, that and setting type at a 15° angle. Actually, I love the classic 50s/60s colour overprint technique so much, I sometimes don't even wait to see if I can come up with something else. It looks damn cool and it works.
And a foreword signed by Dr Beeching. Perhaps they shouldn't have been so welcoming.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 19 March 2008 at 01:01 PM
You're showing your age David but thanks for pointing that out. For anyone else, like me, who doesn't get it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Beeching
Posted by: Richard | 19 March 2008 at 01:08 PM
I know a good song about the Beeching Report:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFJd9n8X9DI
(the video is spoiled by a misspelling of 'their' toward the end)
Posted by: shov | 19 March 2008 at 01:32 PM
He was before my time as well, mind - I'm not that old.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 19 March 2008 at 04:18 PM
Lovely. Reminds me of my set of 1960s british transport commission book covers
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=project%20cover&w=51461618%40N00
Posted by: Jane | 22 March 2008 at 08:00 PM
Wow Jane, those Project covers are superb. Thanks for pointing them out.
Posted by: Richard | 22 March 2008 at 11:31 PM