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Re: Orientation of titles on spines



 >Wolfgang Undorf wrote:
 >
 >>Is there anyone who has an idea of why the titles on the spines of books
 >>change orientation dependant on whether it is an English, German, or a
 >>French publication? Some books have to ly on their back cover, others to
 >>ly on the front cover so that the title on the spine can appear in
 >>uppright position.
 >>
 >>Is their a reason for this phenomenon other than tradition?
 >

I wonder if there is any connexion with driving on the right side versus driving on the left side (British versus American practice).
I collect a series called Tourist Library, put out by the Japanese in English, both to aid the tourist and for propaganda purposes. Before and during the war, spine titles read up; after the war they read down. Was this the influence of the American Occupation?
John B. Thomas, III


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