For the third time in a row, the highest international distinction – the Golden Letter – has been awarded to a Dutch book. The prize goes to Ourouboros Wings by artist/designer Benaiah French, who graduated with this project in 2025 from the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague. In addition, the Netherlands receives a bronze medal for Collapsed Mythologies: A Geofinancial Atlas by designer Dayna Casey.
An international professional jury reviewed 550 books submitted by 32 countries and awarded the top prize to the Dutch graduation project Ourouboros Wings by visual artist/designer Benaiah French, which focuses on the fatbike. The book’s light and tactile design and production offer a completely different perspective on this phenomenon, which is often portrayed negatively in the media. The book had previously been unanimously selected by both the Dutch professional jury and the student jury. It was printed at the Royal Academy of Art. The binding involved no kiss (Amsterdam) and Pantheon Drukkers (IJmuiden).
It is extremely rare for a country to win the Golden Letter three years in a row. In 2024 the Netherlands won with Walking as Research Practice by Jana Sophie Liebe, and the year before with Forget Me Not by Stéphanie Baechler.
The bronze medal goes to Collapsed Mythologies: A Geofinancial Atlas by designer Dayna Casey. The book was printed by Gutenberg Beuys GmbH and published by Page Not Found (NL) and Spector Books (DE). The book delves into the distinctive, often ecological language of the financial world. By examining these words, it shows how narratives, images and metaphors shape our understanding of the economy—and how that language in turn influences the real world.
The Netherlands has also three books on the shortlist of the international jury:
- Catalogue of Stolen Objects, Courtesy of. Design: Mirelle van Tulder; Production: NPN Printing, Van Hees – Patist Boekbinders; Publisher: Roots to Fruits
- Rain – Jannemarein Renout. Design: Mainstudio; Production: Alex Feenstra, Pantheon Drukkers, Van Hees – Patist Boekbinders; Publisher: Jap Sam Books
- Well, Water Does Not Appear. Design: Rudy Guedj; Production: Rudy Guedj, Boekbinderij Voetelink; Publisher: Building Fictions
The international awards will be presented on Friday, March 20 during the Leipzig Book Fair, where all winners will be exhibited (along with all submitted entries). Later this year the exhibition will also be on view at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
photo: © Gerlinde de Geus