LIFE celebrates their best covers

As LIFE magazine approaches its 75th anniversary, LIFE presents, in chronological order, the 75 most moving, most striking, most beautiful LIFE covers of all time, as chosen by the site’s editors. This is the cover for April 30, 1965: The Days Before Birth. Sixteen photos excerpted from Swedish photojournalist Lennart Nilsson’s book A Life Is Born were published in the April 30, 1965, issue of LIFE — but perhaps none as breathtaking or memorable as this cover image. Every one of the 8 million copies of LIFE printed sold out with four days.