An Interesting Picture Book - a Balloon for a Blunderbuss
Revival of an old rock band or remake of a film is what we often see. Interesting thing is, there are even revival of rare picture books that were once out of print. One of such picture books was done by a famous artist who has built the foundation of contemporary graphic design universe. A Balloon for a Blunderbuss is a work by a guy named Bob Gill, who lives in New York known as a graphic designer, illustrator and copywriter. The book was published in 1961 just after he established a design studio called Pentagram with Alan Fletcher and Colin Forbes in London. It is a large-scaled imaginative story about a straw millionaire who exchanges his butterfly which he caught in his hand for a flag, then for a hat, then for his own zoo, and for his own army, and finally for his own city. Only Bob Gill can make such simple yet classic theme into an impressive and inspiring piece of work with twist and unique illustration.
It does not only look pretty on the bookshelf but takes you to the world of Gill once you open it.
I am sure that there should be a number of such great pieces hidden in the world and I truly hope that those picture books will revive one after another like old quality records.
