Overmatter: Off the record

A subversive new form of creative print work has generated a significant number of column inches in recent weeks, after copies (well, at least one copy) of David Cameron’s new memoir, For the Record, were fitted with a faux dust jacket.

The spoof cover was spotted by Alex Bray while he was browsing in Foyles bookshop. His tweet picturing the book soon went viral. The pastiche artworking, cover blurbles, detailing in terms of size and folds – such that it blended in perfectly with the real thing – marked it out as the work of a pro. 

The image above right is how the real thing looks, with the subverted version below, including this ‘quote’ from Judy and Andy Murray: “A poorly-written romp around the world, with hardly any reference to tennis whatsoever”, which Judy thought was hilarious when she heard about it and tweeted an emoji-laden response. 

It was only a matter of time before the perpetrator was unmasked and it turned out to Oli Beale, formerly a partner and executive creative director at ad agency Anomaly London. 

Hat-tip Oli, we love your work. 

Cameron, however, doesn’t seem to have mentioned the matter.