wiedler.ch

book (design) story #547

jack bilbo:
ein mensch wird verbrecher

universitas deutsche verlags-aktiengesellschaft, berlin, 1932
printer: p. schmid & co., berlin
size: ?? x ?? cm
designer: georg salter (jacket)

this georg salter (1897-1967) jacket is a brilliant example of his expressive use of type and lettering. the book's title "a man becomes a criminal" literally turns "nasty" – typographically speaking: the letters become crooked and finally turn bloody!

on the back a photo of al capone, boss of the chicago underworld.

these memoirs of al capone's bodyguard were written by jack bilbo, whose real name was hugo cyrill kulp baruch (1907-1967), a berlin-based jewish writer, artist, galerist and adventurer.

after being imprisoned by the nazis in 1933 he managed to escape to spain and finally london. in the 1950s he returned to berlin where he opened a legendary bar.

the photos show gangsters delivering beer in new york (in prohibition-times america, above), and below: a member of a rivaling gang is "taken for a ride", never to return ...