THE RUDIMENTS OF WISDOM ENCYCLOPAEDIA
(ALMOST EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW, 1988)
My Rudiments of Wisdom cartoon strip was ended by the
Observer in 1987, but I managed to get back the rights. This gave me a new incentive to
find a publisher, which I eventually did. The book sold 50,000 copies but went out of
print in 1998. However, all the cartoons are now on the web www.rudimentsofwisdom.com Also
copies of the book are still available on Amazon
The publisher gave me complete freedom over the interior of the book but the cover was an
entertaining battle. the various stages are reproduced here. |
My first idea for a cover, based on the idea that there weren't any black covers in
childrens books, so it would stand out (its a cartooon of a road line painting gang)
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The publisher's first idea of a cover
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My Second idea, a bit dull
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Revised second idea, papering over a sex scene - poking fun at the designer's 'sex sells'
line.
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My third attempt, based on the design of an old battery
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Their second attempt, based on my third attempt.
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The final design. It could have been much worse, though I still hate the green.
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www.rudimentsofwisdom.com
www.hunkinsexperiments.com
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