Reader's Digest Magazine - May 1938 Issue

This is an original May 1938 issue of Reader's Digest, marked as the 17th Year of Publication. The magazine features the classic early-style cover design, characterized by a detailed architectural border with fluted columns and a pediment, rendered in a monochrome sepia or light-brown ink on off-white paper. At the bottom corners are decorative illustrations of individuals reading. The front cover serves as the table of contents, listing diverse articles from publications such as Fortune, Harper's, and Atlantic, as well as a book section titled 'The House that Hitler Built' by Stephen H. Roberts. The price is listed as 25 cents a copy or $3 a year. Physically, the item shows significant signs of age and wear appropriate for a publication over 80 years old. There is visible creasing on the left side and top-right corner, along with minor chipping and darkening of the paper edges (foxing). The spine appears to be intact but shows stress marks. This issue represents a significant period in pre-WWII history, containing articles that reflect the social and political anxieties of the late 1930s. The typography and layout are quintessential of the era's utilitarian yet formal aesthetic.