Printers' Ink, Oct 12, 1898 (Vol. 25, No. 2): "Magazine Advertising: An Advertisement" by Charles Austin Bates
The pattern
This still is filed under Lettered cover hook.
Define
The cover is the hook, and the hook is lettering: a title treated as an image.
Mechanism
Type as bait. The words are drawn so they stop the hand before the contents are known.
Verdict
A journal, book, or issue must sell itself on a rack or a feed
Why it works
Uses a striking illustration and massive, undeniable numbers right on the front cover to prove dominance in the market.
Steal this when
Selling advertising space or sponsorships based purely on reach and volume.