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 24 x 18-1/2” color poster by the husband-and-wife team, Leo and Diane Dillon (The People Could Fly), is signed by both artists and is in Fine condition. The Dillons were two-time Caldecott Medal recipients, first for Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears in 1977 and the following year for Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. Here, Patience and Fortitude, the marble lions guarding the New York Public Library come alive with children reading on their backs. The official poster of New York is Book Country, 1999.