Monday, September 2, 2013

Afloat on the Ohio

A long-time favorite cover is Afloat on the Ohio. Who created it is a mystery. The book is signed CYR on the back cover, but no known book cover designer had that monogram. It is likely their last name--there are and have been several artists named Cyr, and there were many Cyr and St. Cyr families in America at that time.  The name Cyr was well known because of Ellen Cyr, author of the popular series of graded reading books used by many schoolchildren.
     Way & Williams employed some of the best designers, including Bruce Rogers, Maxfield Parrish, J. C. Leyendecker, Frank Hazenplug and Will Bradley. 
If you have any information about who the cover artist might be, please post a comment!


Afloat on the Ohio
by Reuben Gold Thwaites
Way & Williams
Chicago, 1897
[signed CYR, unidentified]