Avon Exhibit Showcases Cover Art Of Holidays Past

Avon Historical Society

AVON, CT — A glimpse into Christmase's past is on full display at the local library.

The Avon Historical Society’s new exhibit in the History Corner of the Avon Free Public Library entitled “Winter Holiday Covers – Books, Catalogs, and Magazines” will be open throughout January 2025.

And one glance at the visuals shows that, yes, one can judge a book (or magazine or catalog) by its cover.

The exhibit features nearly 100 covers from the collection of Joyce Baldwin will be on display giving visitors a glimpse of how cover images have evolved over more than a century.

“Cover designs are a major factor in drawing the attention of children and adults to a book, catalog, or magazine. It’s eye candy,” said Baldwin, who has been saving winter holiday covers for many years.

Early 1900s books on display show how soon publishers recognized the value of full-color illustrations, with Santa as a popular character.

Department store catalogs entice with lively designs that often coordinate with store window displays.

The exhibit includes examples from department stores such as Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, and Lord & Taylor as well as from museums and Parisian stores.

Also on display are several covers from holiday-theme magazines from back in the day.

Other magazines in the exhibit date from the 1970s and include Country Living, House Beautiful, Americana, Early American Life, Gourmet, Martha Stewart Living, and several other titles, some of which are no longer published.

The exhibit is open for viewing during regular business hours at the Avon Free Public Library.

For more information on the Avon Free Public Library, click on this link.