Amazon Reviewer: An interesting large-size paperback showing the work of Michael English (1941-2009). He was one of those artists who inspired the Swinging Sixties London and in the seventies developed a slick airbrush style. The book probably has examples of his best work and certainly his most popular posters. The Food (1969) and Rubbish (1970) prints must have sold millions of copies round the world, especially the used Coke bottle cap (in the book this is opposite a half submerged empty Pepsi bottle) English moved away from painting battered commercial packaging to concentrate on machinery and nature. The machinery series looked at parts of transport: a jet engine cowling; front of a diesel; wheels and tyres. Mostly close-ups and usually with a bit of lettering of a company name or instruction sign, all the rivets are there and the grime from constant usage. The nature series seem to have morphed from the battered packaging series. One spread shows two whole page paintings of foliage and both have empty bottles, one a smashed Coke bottle. I thought it interesting that English chose to include lettering in his work. Perhaps the greatest challenge for an artist because repeat letters have to look identical, in every example he carries it off perfectly. Four spreads in the book reveal how: he was a brilliant draughtsman. These spreads show seventeen pencil roughs for the airbrush work and they look immaculate.
Binding: Softcover
Book Condition: Very Good (Slightly shelf worn on page edges, see images)
Cover Condition: Very Good (Slightly shelf worn on edges and corners, see images)
Book Condition Grading Guide
As New: The book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published. This could be the description for a book that has been lost in a warehouse for years, never shelved, thumbed or even opened yet may still be some years old.
Fine (F or FN): A Fine book approaches the condition of As New, but without being crisp. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages.
Very Good (VG): Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear - but no tears - on either binding or paper. Any defects should be noted by the seller.
Good (G): Describes the average used worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects should be noted by the seller.
Fair: Worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title, etc. (which must be noted). Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may also be worn. All defects should be noted.
Poor: Describes a book that is sufficiently worn. Any missing maps or plates should still be noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.
Binding Copy: describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent.
Reading Copy: A copy usually in poor to fair condition that includes all text presented in a legible fashion. The copy is fine to read but nothing more.
