Ace Jet 170

Homage to Romek

 

Around the middle of 2017 I made one of these, just for the pleasure of sewing those lines and pinning those pins: The Marber Grid, rendered in cotton thread and map pins on a canvas board. A tribute to Romek's very clever system that brought unity to so many Penguin and Pelican covers through the 60s and 70s.

It was pretty well received on the social medias back then and again more recently when I made one for friend-from-the-internet Daniel Benneworth-Gray. So I'm now making them them to order — there are a few of them out there now, hanging on various walls.

The grid is re-created, by hand, at actual size, as the great designer intended it, i.e. Penguin and Pelican paperback size.

I've mounted mine in a 30 x 40cm Gunnabo from IKEA but they don't seem to be available now so I've switched to the Hovsta (available in dark brown, medium brown and birch). These have the necessary extra depth for the map pins and I'd be happy to supply the 'Homage' framed the same way, or you can take care of framing yourself.

There's a bit of work involved but I'm keeping my pricing as tight as a taut thread, hence: 
Framed: £75 / Unframed: £65

Happy to include UK postage and packaging in that cost but will have to charge a little extra if you're further afield – I'll let you know how much before you commit. If you'd like one email me by clicking here. We can arrange payment through PayPal (if you don't have an account it's really easy to sign up). Allow around two to three weeks for me to make your 'Homage to Romek'.

 

Map pins mark the critical grid points:

One grey thread represents the broken line on RM's original drawing.

Click each image for a closer look.

 

—
Post updated 31.12.17

Exhibit "P"

Of all the Pelican Books, it had to happen on this one. If you've ever scrutinised Marber's grid construction you'll know Romek worked hard to allow for any eventuality. Including what to do with a long and/or awkward title.

Compared to the original diagram this cover seams to deviate only very slightly; the original didn't feature that 'a' before 'Pelican Book' and had a lining up point on its 'P' but the principal was the same. And yet that title; well, it's wrong isn't it? Kind of centred but of course not quite, because it's not supposed to be. Should the "Years of" have been run onto the next line? Easily fixed…

A bit of a shame because despite the rather sloppy composition on the cover, inside it's an exceptional, particularly well illustrated Pelican.

Mother

As unlikely as it might seem, I really wasn't expecting to appear here yesterday - I thought it was going somewhere else. Needless to say, totally thrilled about it anyway. 

Spinewear

Gijs Sierman emailed me through my Flickr account last week. Knowing of my deep-rooted love of the pelecanidae waterfowl named paperbacks, he thought I might be interested in his limited edition, and I must say, strangely magnificent shirts. For his someshirt project, bespoke fabrics are printed in order to cut and craft just 60 shirts. Too tailored for my ever expanding self and somewhat out of my price range, they are, undeniably unique. It's not a shirt you'd…ehum…leave on the…you know…

Penguin/Pelican Credits (Overdue)

Much to the delight of the rest of my family, I got ALL of my Penguin and Pelican paperbacks out last week. Took a few photos but also updated my Flickr sets with design credits for Main Series, Crime, Education, Specials and Pelicans.

Take a look if you're curious.

David Pearson at Walker Art Center

Fletcher Spain Spain Robertson

A couple more for here and here. Two Penguin Crimes with covers by Alan Spain (two of many for Ed McBain's books) as well as a Fletcher and a Robertson for Pelican.

Tri-Pelican Expansion

I've just added a few more Pelicans to Flickr. If you haven't seen my collection, it's here.

Flock Stock

Another handful added.

The Flockers

Do Penguins flock? Not sure. Probably. Although certainly not the paperback kind; they seem a little thin on the ground nowadays. It's taken me about 6 months to pull together this handful…Well, I say "handful", but I mean "handful" as in a slightly freaky, Anne Boleynesque six-fingered handful. (No offence, any sextedigiters out there!).

The book are now on Flickr.