Scott Joplin: The Red Back Book (Album Cover Art)
Graphic design and commercial illustration; offset lithography on cardboard sleeve with vinyl record. • Cover design attributed to Angel Records creative team; recording by The New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble conducted by Gunther Schuller.
Style & Movement
Retro-Revivalism / Mid-Century Graphic Illustration. It blends 1970s pop art sensibilities with a stylized homage to late 19th-century minstrel or marching band iconography.
Medium & Technique
Offset lithography and commercial printing. The original illustration features flat-color pop-art aesthetic with bold outlines, mimicking early 20th-century advertisement styles.
Creation Period
1973 (Release date of the recording).
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12.375 x 12.375 inches (standard LP format); Square.
Subject Description
Features seven African American musicians in red band uniforms with black trim and caps, posing with instruments (trombone, clarinet, trumpet, double bass, and drum) on a tiered stage. The composition is symmetrical and frontal, celebrating the African American roots of Ragtime music.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. The cover shows visible 'foxing' or brown spotting, edge wear, and corner softening. The vinyl disc appears to have surface dust but no deep visible scratches.
Estimated Market Value
$5 - $15 USD (Based on common mass-production status and visible foxing/wear).
Auction Estimate
$3 - $10 USD (Typically sold as a vintage collectible rather than a fine art piece).
Provenance History
Angel Records (EMI) mass-produced pressing, catalog number S-36060. Most likely acquired through retail channels in the 1970s.
Art Historical Significance
This record was pivotal in the 1970s Ragtime revival, winning a Grammy Award. The artwork helped re-contextualize Scott Joplin’s music from 'honky-tonk' stereotypes back to its formal, orchestrated origins.
Notable Features
Features the 'Angel' logo and 'The Red Back Book' title in a stylized bubble font. The disc itself is the 'Sunburst' label variety common to 1970s Angel Records pressings.
Condition Issues
Significant foxing (acidic spotting) on the white background of the sleeve. Minor abrasions on the top edge. The vinyl record center label shows slight spindle wear.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in a polyethylene outer sleeve to prevent further shelf wear. Keep in a climate-controlled, low-humidity environment to halt the progression of foxing.