The Story of the American Negro - by James Baldwin (preparatory layout)

Unidentified

This appears to be the pre-press layout for a poster or other informational ephemera, perhaps for an event that would host the famed writer James Baldwin. A conte crayon, India ink drawing underlies pre-computer grahic design elements, including the dry-transfer "lorem ipsum"-style text used as a placeholder for the intended copy. The title is rendered in India ink and the subtitle, "By James Baldwin", is also dry-transfer, with the vinyl lining still attached to the letters.

It's not clear what this design was intended for, though it's likely it was used to publicize a speaking engagement or guest lecture featuring Baldwin, perhaps discussing anthropologist author Ina Corinne Brown's book "The Story of the American Negro" first published in 1936, illustrated by African-America artist Aaron Douglas.

This work was professionally restored to remove acidity and old tape residue.