Lift and Separate: graphic design and the quote unquote vernacular. Edited by Barbara Glauber
A fantastic book designed and edited by Barbara Glauber to accompany an exhibition at the Herb Lublin Study Center. The essays question the idea of 'high' design stealing from 'low' vernacular design. The issues have changed since 1993 when the book was written, but the act of copying and sampling from one design world to another remains the same.
I didn't bring this with me to rome, but its important to add to the list here -- and not just for the fabulous flocked cover and gold foil stamping...