Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms by Sybil P. Parker
Cover of Volume 1 (of 2)
Parker’s description of all living organisms published in 1982 in a two-volume set by McGraw-Hill. The books cover the entire tree of life, with all organisms described in their taxonomic relation to each other and with (usually short) synopses. Lest you get too excited by the scope of this ambitious project (and it is in my opinion almost ludicrously ambitious) be forewarned that most taxa are described only down to the Family level, and of course, biology has moved on a lot since 1982. A modern equivalent is the Tree of Life web project.
The two volumes make a weighty addition to any biologist’s bookshelves.
The cover has the title foil stamped in VGC’s American Uncial Bold, and leads into a foil stamped rectangle around a depiction of a DNA molecule undergoing replication and a simplified tree of life. The volume number is from the original American Uncial.
No cover designer or typographer is mentioned specifically, but Edward J. Fox is credited as art design/production director.
Spines showing both volumes
Title page with frontispiece of Vol. 1. Names of editor and publisher are in Optima Bold. The locations use Baskerville.
Title page with frontispiece of Vol. 2. The illustrations are by Howard S. Friedman.
Covers of both volumes
