Record Covers Book Appraisal

1000 Record Covers by Michael Ochs (Taschen)

This item is a large format hardcover book titled '1000 Record Covers' by Michael Ochs, published by Taschen. The cover features a vibrant and highly detailed collage of classic record album artwork, prominently displaying the iconic 'Abraxas' album cover by Santana at the top, along with numerous other recognizable rock and pop album covers from various eras. Below this central collage, a horizontal orange band with white text clearly reads '1000 RECORD COVERS'. The bottom left quadrant of the cover features a cropped image of David Bowie's 'Diamond Dogs' album cover, specifically the upper body of Bowie with a black eye patch and a raised bicep, adorned with a green recycling symbol and the text 'PVC 03'. Adjacent to this, there are rows of smaller, square album cover images featuring numerous artists, and the author's name 'Michael Ochs' is visible above a 'TASCHEN' logo, indicating the publisher. The book appears to be substantial in size, given the proportions compared to the hand holding it, suggesting a coffee-table style book. The overall color palette is rich and diverse, reflecting the varied art styles of the record covers. The book is encased in a clear plastic protective cover, which shows some crinkling and minor tears, particularly noticeable across the Santana artwork and near the spine, indicating either external wear or the original packaging. The spine area, partially visible, also suggests some potential wear or scuffing on the actual book cover underneath the plastic. The edges and corners are somewhat obscured by the plastic and hand, but the top edge of the book shows some light scuffing or staining. This book is a compilation and celebration of graphic design and musical history, likely appealing to music enthusiasts, graphic designers, and collectors. Its condition under the plastic cannot be fully assessed, but the plastic itself shows signs of handling.