Tank Books Tin

A bit of design whimsy from Brit style magazine Tank (slogan: Elitism for everyone) comprising a tin cigarette carton with six flip-top packs inside, each individually cellophane wrapped and containing a complete novel in mini form. As no one will be reading these it really is an example of style over content. \nThe design of the packs do look rather intriguing and sort of like the real thing, especially Hemingway which is very close to Lucky Strike in looks. The others are design passable but not as convincing as the credits for the movie `Thank you for smoking’ which use pack graphics brilliantly. The mini paperbacks are very basic, 3.25 by 2 inches with black type and an illustration of the author on the back cover. No title on the spine or title page. \nThe pack/books are available individually and a trap for the unwary if you ordered one not knowing that it is minute edition. It’s probably cheaper to buy this carton unless you just wanted a particular author. They include Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of darkness’ (ISBN 978-0955573200) Ernest Hemingway’s ‘The snows of Kilimanjaro’ and ‘The undefeated’ (978-0955573217) Franz Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘In the penal colony’ (978-0955573224) Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The man who would be king’, ‘The phantom rickshaw’ and ‘Black Jack’ (978-0955573231) Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ (978-0955573248) Leo Tolstoy’s ‘The death of Ivan Ilych’ and ‘Father Sergius’ (978-0955573255). Why this fiction was chosen (other than being copyright free) is not revealed neither is the package designer. \nDesigners and like minded folk will appreciate the concept and the set does look pretty cool on display though I think it is rather overpriced. Just look round the web and be amazed at some of the prices for the carton or individual packs.