|
 "The coursing Borzoi has always been our trademark . . . A neighbor next door has a good specimen of Borzoi, and I have checked my details--head, build, etc.--with that dog. From the very beginning we have frequently been asked the meaning of the word "Borzoi" and what it has to do with books. When I started in business the publisher I admired most was London's William Heinemann, and the sign of a Heinemann book was a windmill, drawn for him, I think, by William Nicholson. Since a windmill obviously had nothing to do with books, I saw no reason why we could not adopt the Borzoi as our mark." --Alfred A. Knopf, 1948
|
When Alfred Knopf founded his company in 1915, he not only wanted to publish the most distinguished writers of the day, he wanted to present their work in the most beautiful editions possible.
Relentless in his efforts to produce books that would be the envy of every other publisher, Alfred employed the very best in production and design so that each Knopf book would be treasured as much for its handsome design as it was for its thoughtful prose. He paid special attention to such details as paper stock, typography, layout, bindings, endpapers, topstains, and jackets. And, of course, the one element a book had to have before it could be called a Knopf book: it had to have the borzoi logo. And it appears today just as it did in Alfred's day--on every title page and every casing of every book we publish. So proud was Alfred of his well-produced books that he often took out lengthy advertisements extolling the many virtues of his Borzoi Books.
And what would Alfred think of the industry if he were alive today? He would no doubt marvel at the technological advances that have changed the face of publishing. But we'd like to think, too, that he would marvel that the tradition of fine bookmaking he established so long ago continues today.
