Object Timeline

1929

  • Work on this object began.

2015

2016

2017

2024

  • You found it!

Book, American Automotive Club of Europe Year-book

This is a Book. It is dated October 1929 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is screenprint and letterpress on paper; cover in silver-coated corrugated cardboard. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

The American Automobile Club of Europe was founded in 1925 by a group of fifteen American automobile executives who were based throughout Europe. The executives were focused on promoting the emerging markets for American-made automobiles, and felt that a professional organization would help support them. Headquartered in Paris, the group’s mission is outlined in this publication, which was designed by French graphic designer Jean Carlu: “To bring together the men in Europe who represent American manufacturers in all branches of the automotive industry. To act as a clearing house for information of mutual interest to its members, and to study questions which affect their operations. To entertain visitors to Europe who are connected with the automotive industry in America.” Carlu’s publication design features a striking logo, layering the acronym lettering of the club in an Art Deco style. The cover is constructed of a silver-coated ridged cardboard, a visual nod to the corrugated metal that was popular in industrial production.

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Drawing, Concept Car
  • brush and gouache on paper.
  • Museum purchase through gift of Paul Herzan and from General Acquisitions....
  • 2017-18-11
  • Drawing, Concept Car
  • graphite, crayon on illustration board.
  • Museum purchase through gift of Paul Herzan and from General Acquisitions....
  • 2017-18-4

Its dimensions are

21 × 19.1 cm (8 1/4 × 7 1/2 in.)

Cite this object as

Book, American Automotive Club of Europe Year-book; screenprint and letterpress on paper; cover in silver-coated corrugated cardboard; 21 × 19.1 cm (8 1/4 × 7 1/2 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2015-41-10

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/404536703/ |title=Book, American Automotive Club of Europe Year-book |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>