1080 recetas de cocina by Simone Ortega

1080 recetas de cocina (“1080 recipes”) by Simone Ortega is a staple of most Spanish homes since 1972 as the go-to, all-encompassing cookbook. According to Wikipedia, its popularity has endured to the point of being the third best-selling book in Spanish history after El Quijote and the Bible.

Part of this success might have been due to its convenient original format, as the publishers chose to print the book as a paperback (most cookbooks, and especially the official cookbook of the Sección femenina, the Spanish regime’s official women’s branch, were printed in bulky hardcover copies.) The original cover was designed by Daniel Gil, known for his revolutionary and innovative work in editorial design. He selected the very contemporary Friz Quadrata for the cover typography.

Later editions have used different typefaces. One of them, designed in 1996 by Daniel Gil himself, used Peignot, a frequent choice for Alianza Editorial’s book series. The latest edition, which changed the original cover after 48 years, uses a similar visual style created by Manuel Estrada but is typeset in Torino.