Background:

We are pleased to present original Fortune magazine covers from 1930 - the first year of publication - including the Premier issue in February 1930.  The design for this cover was by T. M. Cleland.  His overall graphics design continued to be followed throughout the 1930s.

Henry Luce, publisher of Fortune, said he wanted "the new magazine to be as beautiful a magazine as exists in the United States.   If possible, the undisputed most beautiful".  To that end  leading artists of the day contributed to the design of the covers including Antonio Petruccelli, Ervine Metzl, Walter Buehr and Ernest Hamlin Baker.  Where possible, we identify the artist for the cover.

The covers are notable both for the quality of the graphics, and their commentary on business, social and political issues of the day.

Each Fortune cover is provided with a copy of the table of contents from the issue.