• Arlington Gregg Dont gum up a book poster with bold black figure over open book on red background with yellow accents, framed and displayed in home decor
  • Arlington Gregg Dont gum up a book poster with bold black figure over open book on red background with yellow accents, with black aluminium frame on white background
  • Arlington Gregg Dont gum up a book poster with bold black figure over open book on red background with yellow accents, framed and displayed in modern living room decor
  • Closeup detail of Arlington Gregg Dont gum up a book poster with bold black figure over open book on red background with yellow accents
  • Arlington Gregg Dont gum up a book poster with bold black figure over open book on red background with yellow accents, with wooden magnetic frame on white background
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Moryarty

Don't gum up a book Poster

Don't gum up a book Poster

Poster Size
€9,00
€9,00
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Don't gum up a book (1936) by Arlington Gregg

Printed in the WPA era as a vivid color silkscreen, this striking design turns a playful library warning into graphic statement art, with its bold black figure, radiant red field, and sunny yellow accents bringing vintage character and conversation-starting charm to any room.

Our posters are printed on thick (230gsm) acid-free matte art paper, using a long-lasting UV-resistant ink. We also offer the option of printing on textured canvas (300gsm), more flexible and resistant. Our frames are made of either light and resistant aluminium, or solid wood. More details in our FAQ

Ref : PUB336

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About the Artist

Arlington Gregg enters the story of American poster design through a 1936 WPA-era library warning. His name is tied here to a vertical poster that turns a small act of carelessness into a public message, using the language of New Deal graphics to speak directly to readers. The result feels rooted in the civic life of the library, where art print clarity had to do real work. In that setting, vintage poster design becomes part of daily behavior rather than decoration alone.

The Artwork

Don t gum up a book was made to discourage a habit that could damage shared reading material. The print speaks from the world of public libraries, where books moved constantly between hands and needed protection from sticky pages and torn corners. Its warning is memorable because it frames etiquette as a visual lesson instead of a dry rule. Seen today as a vintage print, it still carries the practical purpose of WPA-era wall art while preserving the social tone of 1930s public service graphics.

Style & Characteristics

A strong red field fills the page and sets off the black figure, which crouches over an open book in a bold, simplified shape. Yellow accents sharpen the outline of the head, limbs, and pages, while white marks slice through the composition like torn paper. The lettering at the bottom mixes rough block capitals with a cursive phrase, giving the poster a striking rhythm without crowding the image. Its minimalist graphic language keeps every shape visible at once, and the vertical format lets the figure hover over the book with immediate tension.

In Interior Design

In a narrow home office, this fine art print would bring a sharp burst of color beside a pale desk and a stack of well-used paperbacks. The red ground adds warmth, while the black figure creates a clear anchor on a quiet wall. As interior decoration, it works especially well where vintage art can add personality without cluttering the room. Framed cleanly, the poster gives the space a bookish edge that feels alert and lived in.