Speaking of endpapers: I was at my friend Sarah’s recently, digging through her children’s books. (Sarah teaches third grade.) She kept handing me stuff, saying, “Oh, this one is GREAT.” Then she handed me Johnny Penguin, published by Doubleday in 1931.

My immediate reaction: “OH HELLO DELICIOUS ENDPAPERS.”

(Click to enlarge.)

Ah, the good old days of pre-separated artwork (some of which appears to have been prepared in lithographic crayon, yum yum!). These endpapers, and some of the interior illustrations, are printed in black, a lovely warm gray, orange, and turquoise. All I can say is that I would like wallpaper made out of this stuff.