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Type: Desk Plaque / Corporate Paperweight / Literary Memorabilia
Material: Solid Bronze / Brass PlatedCompany: Simon & Schuster
Era/Year: 1999 (75th Anniversary Commemorative Edition)
Condition: Excellent vintage condition. Includes original commemorative box.
Up for sale is a rare and highly collectible piece of publishing history: an official Simon & Schuster corporate desk plaque complete with its original 75th Anniversary commemorative box (1924–1999).
The heavy bronze-toned metal plaque features the iconic publishing mandate: \"Give the Reader a Break\" alongside the signature of company co-founder Richard L. Simon. This famous maxim served as a daily reminder to editors to prioritize clarity, brevity, and reader engagement above all else. Historically, these plaques were placed on the desks of newly hired editors and became legendary fixtures in the offices of publishing giants like Michael Korda and Robert Gottlieb.
This listing includes the highly collectible, original blue-and-white presentation box celebrating 75 years of Simon & Schuster.
The box features an artistic collage showcasing the historical evolution of the company\'s famous \"The Sower\" logo (inspired by Jean-François Millet’s 1850 painting).
Condition NotePlaque: In excellent vintage condition with a beautiful, deep patina. Lettering and the \"Sower\" emblem are crisp and highly legible. Felt backing on the reverse is intact to protect desk surfaces.
The box is structurally sound with crisp graphics. Shows minimal shelf wear consistent with age (please review all photos for exact cosmetic condition).
Perfect for book editors, writers, journalists, and publishing professionals. Collectors of vintage corporate advertising, literary history, and rare book memorabilia. Unique, high-end mid-century style office dec
