The Modern Motor Car.

Stylish chromolithographic flap book on car engineering. A striking, Art Deco flap book on motor cars, published as marketing for Shell's engine oil, with wrapper photos by Vogue photographer Maurice Beck.

The six plates depict a car from the inside out, starting with the chassis and interior, then the frame and engine, followed by three plates of the engine itself. The final engine plate does not have flaps, but depicts the 'chamber of horrors', a dirty and broken engine with text descriptions of all that has gone wrong, much of which could have been prevented with regular oil replacements.

The wrappers depict a race car driver and were taken by Maurice Beck, who along with Helen MacGregor was one of the chief photographers for British Vogue. 'There was something nonchalant about the lack of direction or rules with which they placed their lights: their haphazard effect often caused shadows with which other more professional photographers would have probably dispensed. However, their results were often notable' (National Portrait Gallery).

Folio; 6 flap chromolithographs on 5 leaves, 1-page introduction, guide to the illustrations on each facing page, 2-page index, final page of advertising copy, contents a little toned, marked, and creased, wrappers darkened and worn, very good condition; 16pp.