Publications

The Society produces a wide range of publications, which are available here for purchase securely on-line through PayPal. Click the buttons next to each publication to add them to your shopping basket. If you prefer not to order online, then you can use this form to create a printed order, and follow the instructions for sending payment.

Postage | Penguin Collector | Miscellany | Other PCS Publications

Postage
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Postage within the UK is FREE
Airmail postage to EU (not UK): £3
Airmail postage to rest of world: £5

New Publications
Penguin Classics
Penguin Classics — a 144–page updated edition of the 1994 Miscellany of the same name. Containing a dozen articles on all aspects of Penguin Classics from The Odyssey and E.V. Rieu to the 21^st century Red Series and Modern Classics this beautiful publication is essential for anyone with an interest in the ‘L’ series. Price £10.00
Penguin by Designers
Penguin by Designers was published in March 2007. In June 2005, to coincide with Penguin Books' 70th anniversary, Derek Birdsall, Jerry Cinamon, Romek Marber, John Miles, David Pelham and Penguin Press's current art director Jim Stoddart, all delivered illustrated talks at the V&A on their work designing for Penguin. The day was chaired by the type designer, teacher and graphic designer, Phil Baines. These talks have been edited and collected into a 184-page B-format paperback, with all 250 of the speakers' slides and book covers reproduced in colour. This original, limited-edition book has been designed by the D&AD award-winner David Pearson. Penguin by Designers is only available online, or by post from the Society at a cost of £15. Prices are inclusive of UK postage. Copies can be ordered here by Paypal. Orders by post (cheque payable to PCS) can be sent to Martin Yates, 9 Park Road, New Malden KT3 5AF. NOTE For postage abroad, please add £3 for Europe; £5 for the rest of the world for airmail postage per copy ordered . Price: £15.00
The Penguin Companion
This publication is a must for anyone interested in Penguin Books. It is fully described in our Penguin Companion page. It is a ‘B format’ paperback of 250 pages and has over 300 illustrations, most of them in colour. The publication is available at £10 to new members. See membership information. Price: £15.00 Price £10.00 Only for new members.
Wherever you go - take a Penguin Book
Set of 10 colour postcards. The PCS recently acquired, and donated to the Penguin Archive at Bristol University, a unique piece of Penguin history. A 1940’s poster - Wherever you go take a Penguin Book. We have sold out of the limited edition of 50 numbered copies, but now have these postcard sets available. Click here for background details. Price: £4.00
The Typography of Penguins by Erik Ellegaard Frederiksen
This was first published in Danish in 1956. It assesses the impact of Jan Tschichold's complete overhaul of Penguin design between 1947 and 1949. It is the first English translation and is a 40 page high-quality production including all the illustrations (originally in black and white) in full colour. Price: £9.00
Penguin in Print - A Bibliography (December 2003)
This Bibliography, compiled by Tim Graham, is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Penguin. It brings together difficult to find, interesting and informative pieces which describe the Penguin phenomenon from all angles and from recent times back to their origin in 1935. Not just a bibliography, it includes many entertaining extracts as well as colour illustrations. 112 pages. Landscape format. Price: £15.00

Miscellany
Penguins March On (No. 11, December 1996)
Joe Pearson’s wide-ranging study of the state of publishing during WWII, and the special measures taken by Penguin to maintain output in the face of rationing. This included launching the Forces Book Club, Penguin Services Editions, special editions for PoWs, US publications in conjunction with the Infantry Journal, and licensing deals with publishers in Egypt and Australia. Includes checklists and copious illustrations. Perfect bound, 96pp. Price: £6.00
Pelican Books (No. 12, July 1997)
An original publication comprising mainly commissioned articles from authors and academics involved with the series: Asa Briggs, Boris Ford, Richard Hoggart, Jack Marpurgo and designer Gerald Cinamon. It also includes articles on religion in Pelican and selections from the Penguin editorial archives on Kitto’s The Greeks and Kenneth Mason’s Anthology of Animal Poetry. Illustrated, perfect bound in mock Pelican format. 88pp Price: £6.00
Lost Causes (No. 13, December 1998)
Steve Hare read the entire Penguin editorial archive as part of his research for Penguin’s 60th anniversary celebratory volume. While these files related to books published, occasionally correspondence relating to abandoned books or series was kept, more or less by accident in random files. From these clues it was possible to piece together the hugely ambitious plans for postwar expansion. While projects like Penguin Classics, and the Buildings of England thrived, at least two major undertakings had to be abandoned: the World Atlas project, and the definitive Natural History of Britain. To these are added a beautifully produced treatment on vernacular architecture, by Margaret and Alexander Potter; and one series actually published, but almost immediately and cynically abandoned, Grace Hogarth’s exquisite Porpoise Books. 64pp; large format, perfect bound with 4 colour plates and b&w illustrations. Read an extract from Lost Causes [will open a new window] Price: £8.00

Other PCS Publications
Penguin Collectors Companion (1997)
Though now superseded by the new improved version we still have a few copies of the original 1997 edition. This contains much still useful information and is recommended for beginners. Now offered at the bargain price of £4. Price: £4.00
Allen Lane (2002)
A facsimile of the booklet of tributes to Allen Lane by Harry Paroissien, Richard Hoggart and Sir Robert Lusty. The original was produced at the time of Allen Lane’s memorial service in 1970. The facsimile was produced to commemorate the centenary of his birth in 2002. Price: £4.00
The Buildings of England: A Celebration (2001)
Published to celebrate the series’ half century, Simon Bradley and Bridget Cherry’s book contains a selection of published essays on aspects of the series, from the obscure (Private Eye’s ‘Baldy Pevsner’) to the essential: articles by Simon Jenkins, Colin McInnes, Dieter Pevsner, Geoffrey Moorhouse etc. 128pp + 8pp plates, some in colour. This publication is SOLD OUT. However, we have a few complete but slightly imperfect copies (the colour illustrations are bound out of order) available at this reduced price. Price: £5.00
The Penguin Modern Painters: A History (2001)
Carol Peaker’s detailed and thorough examination of the state of British art between the wars, and during WWII. Allen Lane persuaded Sir Kenneth Clark to front a series which aimed to do for modern artists, what Penguin had already achieved for writers: universal accessibility and appreciation. At a time when Penguin’s main output comprised books printed on paper so crudely recycled that whole words from previous printings were often visible, they contrived somehow to obtain high-quality art paper for this hugely influential, and popular series. Large format, perfect-bound; 124pp; 12 colour plates. Read an extract from The Penguin Modern Painters: A History [will open a new window] Price: £15.00
Father and Son (1999)
An original publication compiled and edited by Steve Hare to celebrate the Society’s 25^th anniversary. A number of well-known writers were invited to submit articles or reminiscences on their parents who were in some way involved in the early development of Penguin. Contributors include Martin on Adrian Bell; Simon on Richard Hoggart; Nigel on Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West; Alexander on Auberon, Evelyn and Alec Waugh. 68pp, illustrated throughout. Original cover design by David Gentleman. Read an extract from Father and Son [will open a new window] Price: £4.00
W.E. Williams: Educator Extraordinary (1999)
Previously unpublished manuscript dating from 1980, Gertrude Williams’ biography of her husband, a key figure in British culture for at least a third of the 20th century. Williams was the main Pelican editor; he ran army education during WWII, and was one of the founders of the Arts Council. Hardbound book with dustwrapper, based on the design of Williams’ own memoir of Allen Lane, published by the Bodley Head after Lane’s death. The book includes a selection of correspondence mostly to Lane from Williams, which round off this influential but now undeservedly forgotten author, editor, critic, personality and ‘mover and shaker’ in the arts. Read an extract from W. E. Williams: Educator Extraordinary [will open a new window] Price: £5.00

Life Histories (1996)
In 1960, the artist and writer Paxton Chadwick died shortly before completing this book for Noel Carrington’s Puffin Picture Book series. Carrington retired, and the book was never published, and its catalogue number, PP116, was never used. The original text and plates remained, and were used to recreate the book as closely as possible to its original conception. The book was designed by John Miles, a former Penguin typographer and author and illustrator of a title in the same series. It was printed in three colours by Battley Brothers, under the supervision of the London College of Printing. Published in an edition of 1,000, the book is sold with an accompanying 16-page booklet by Steve Hare, on the history of the Puffin Picture Books, and the reasons for Chadwick’s final book never being published; The Life History of Life Histories. Price: £8.00