COVE

Created sometime between 1926 and 1930, this little red book has a fascinating history. As discussed in the Description of the Edition, this book was published by Robert K. Has, inc. as part of the Little Luxart Library collection. This set of thirty books were all created using leatherette, a synthetic alternative to leather. In the late 1910’s to early 1920’s, leather prices rose, making synthetic materials more popular and less expensive–but it was also rumored to smell bad in warm weather. Given the fact that the books sold by this publisher were intended to be gifts, with a specific market-audience of soldiers abroad in the Great War, this quality may have impacted the reception of the books. It’s also worth noting that it was around this time that the New York-based publishers were purchased by Robert K. Has and renamed–although the collection itself was not renamed.

In the 1920’s, when this book was advertised, the entire collection sold for $2.98, which is approximately $51.66 in 2023 USD. According to this same advertisement, the paper used in manufacturing these books was the same “as that used in books selling for $1.50 to $2.00 a piece.” A book that sold for $1.50 in 1920 would equate to a book worth approximately $26.00 today. The entire collection is currently on sale on Amazon for $80.00.