New York is Book Country was a Manhattan street fair and literary celebration begun in 1979 and abruptly cancelled in 2003. Each year, a prominent artist or book illustrator created a poster to mark the event. Oftentimes, the artist was on hand to autograph the poster for attendees. The very first NY is BC featured two posters, one created by Edward Gorey and a second by Maurice Sendak. In subsequent years, only one was issued.

This original, large 27 x 19-1/2” color poster by the wonderful children’s illustrator Arnold Lobel (Frog and Toad, Fables, The Great Blueness and Other Predicaments) is signed by the artist (“for Edna and Harvey…”) and is in About Fine condition with slight tanning to the top edge. Five colorful birds read among NYC buildings and piles of books. The official poster of New York is Book Country, 1981.