We all know not to judge a book by its cover…but that being said, there are some pretty epic book covers out there, and we should definitely be appreciating them!
From iconic famous book covers to just plain cool book covers, here is a sampling of some of the coolest book covers out there that may help inspire your next read!
1. The Hobbit
If you’re looking for great book covers, it doesn’t get much better than the original artwork for The Hobbit. While there are plenty of different cover designs to choose from, Tolkien’s drawing for the original 1937 edition is clearly the best of them all….and definitely one of the best book covers of all time.
This Misty Mountain cover art was used for the first edition, but one key difference is that the original first edition did not have a red sun like many versions do today (however, as Tolkien Library notes, Tolkien originally wanted it to be red but had to change it due to budget restraints…so perhaps the later editions are more “original” than the original?).
2. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Looking for creative book cover designs? Look no further than 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and other Verne book designs by Jim Tierney. These incredible interactive book covers and dust jackets are just so cool!
Unfortunately, these 4 designs were only created as a senior illustration thesis while at university and are not actual published editions. However, you can find some other cool Verne book covers including this leather-bound classic edition, this 20,000 Leagues book with original illustrations, and this gorgeous Barnes and Noble Collectibles edition.
3. Annotated Sherlock Holmes
If you’re looking for the best book covers, then this set of new annotated Sherlock Holmes works is definitely something that should be on your list. Why? Well, first of all…it’s Sherlock holmes. Second of all…the books make a picture together!
Volumes 1 and 2 come together as a set here, but there’s also a third volume that you can get separately to complete both the set and the picture. If you’re a Sherlock fan or just a fan of beautiful books on your bookshelf, then these three books are a must-have!
4. The Shadow Cipher
The Shadow Cipher is the first book of three in the York trilogy, all of which have super cool architecture-themed covers. Because the books are about a team of kids who follow clues left around New York by a pair of enigmatic architects, these are definitely the perfect covers for the content!
The city scenes are pretty, but the architecture lettering is definitely what makes this cover really stand out and what pulls the book cover together into something quite unique.
5. His Majesty’s Dragon
When you’re looking for good book covers, one that stands out is His Majesty’s Dragon. From the striking red background, to the dragon curled around the image of the ship, this book cover certainly knows how to draw the eye! Particularly if you love books about dragons as much as I do…
6. Alice in Wonderland
There are lots of gorgeous editions of Alice in Wonderland, but let me let you in on a secret: The Folio Society. That’s all you need to know. You’re welcome, and I’m sorry…because you’re going to want to buy all the books.
Honestly, this whole post could be entirely book covers from The Folio Society, as they’re some of the most beautiful book covers you’ll ever find. But The Folio Society’s Alice in Wonderland is definitely one of my all-time favorites. You won’t regret checking it out (even though your wallet might). But if you’re looking for a pretty edition that won’t break the bank, you can check out this version with both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass in one hardcover book.
7. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is another pretty book cover, which I love for its simplicity and Art Deco-ish geometrical style. It’s just so pretty! I haven’t yet had a chance to pick this book up, but I’ve heard some really good things about it so far so it’s definitely on my TBR list.
8. Murder on the Orient Express
The Barnes and Noble Collectible Editions are some of the prettiest (and lower cost) hardcovers on the market right now, and one of my favorites is definitely the Murder on the Orient Express cover art by Jim Tierney. You can see a closer up of the art here.
I love pretty much everything about this book, from the beautiful lettering, to the train windows, to the light shed by the lamp, and you can even find Poirot and his mustache hiding in the shadows! It’s one of the prettiest book covers I’ve seen, and just enhances the amazing book inside the cover as well!
9. Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook
Any time I have the chance to read a retelling of a book or fairy tale, I jump at the chance. And if you also like books that retell famous stories and have good book covers, then you also might be interested in reading Lost Boy. There are currently two main book covers on the market: the one I like from Titan Books, as shown above with the green hook superimposed above the boy…and the other version is the unfortunately more ubiquitous and slightly more bloody cut-off hook version from Berkley Books. I wish the Titan Books version was easier to find, as the cover is kind of haunting and tells the story all on its own!
10. Nightbooks
Another amazing book cover that really makes you want to dive into the book is the cover for Nightbooks, a Scheherazade-like tale about a boy imprisoned by a witch who must tell a new story each night in order to stay alive. And as far as good book covers go, it doesn’t get much better than this cover with its keyhole-shaped design that looks through into the glowing world of books and stories.