about the cover illustration

 

The figure on the cover of First-Party Data Activation is “La modista,” or “The dressmaker,” taken from Usi e Costumi di Napoli e Contorni Descritti e Dipinti by Francesco de Bourcard, published in 1853. Each illustration is finely drawn and colored by hand.

In those days, it was easy to identify where people lived and what their trade or station in life was just by their dress. Manning celebrates the inventiveness and initiative of the computer business with book covers based on the rich diversity of regional culture centuries ago, brought back to life by pictures from collections such as this one.