Le joueur by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Originally published in 1866, Le joueur (“The Gambler”) is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This particular edition was designed in 1953 by La Guilde Du Livre, a Swiss publishing house and book club created in 1936 in Lausanne by Albert Mermoud. Considered the first French-language book club, this non-profit organization sold publications by mail order until 1978.

From the design elements to the choice of materials, the designers have meticulously considered every detail to introduce readers to the book’s theme. The cover replays visual codes of gambling with minimalism, featuring black and yellow Serrées bas de casse numerals in 66 points. Displayed as a grid, the design stands out against the green background, the traditional hue of the game tables.

The inside features illustrations by Philippe Jullian and the text set in Garamond, a timeless typeface choice for a literature publication. The title uses Perpetua Titling.