Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell's defaced book covers – in pictures

Mark Aston of the Islington Local History Centre holds one of the altered library dust jackets. Orton and Halliwell's handiwork was a protest against the poor quality of library books available
Photograph: Felix Clay for the Guardian

The disembodied face of a baboon adorns the Collins Guide to Roses by Bertram Park Photograph: Islington Museum

This doctored book cover displays Orton and Halliwell's strong surreal streak: it's a biography of John Betjeman by Derek Stanford Photograph: Derek Stanford

Queen's Favourite by Phyllis Hambledon. Orton and Halliwell reportedly slipped the books back on the shelves and waited for someone to pick them up so they could see the reaction Photograph: Islington Museum

The surrealism of some of Orton and Halliwell's gags – seen here on the cover of The Great Tudors, edited by Katharin Garvin – calls to mind Monty Python and the Goodies, though both came much later Photograph: Islington Museum

The council must have been furious ... giant cats on the jacket of Agatha Christie's The Secret Chimneys

Could you judge these books by their covers? See for yourself at Islington Museum until 21 January 2012 Photograph: Islington Museum