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Finely
produced editions of important
original texts
Our aim at Castle Hill Press is to publish
high-quality editions of important literary and historical texts that a trade publisher
might not find commercially viable. In principle, we aim to publish one or two volumes a year. In
recent years general publishing has focused ever more strongly on
profits, to the detriment of quality in
both editorial and production standards. Published texts are frequently
marred by poor copy-editing. Electronic typesetting - which provides almost unlimited scope for fine typography - is
simply used to cut costs.
To improve margins, publishers are constantly tempted to
spend less on paper and binding. Even the great university presses, which should be the natural outlet for important non-commercial texts and the bastions of high-quality book production, have been afflicted by the drive for cost savings - if not profits. At the other end of the scale, the private-press movement is flourishing; but its strength lies in short-run illustrated books. The results are
a pleasure to handle and own; yet, in this environment, text has become secondary - in large quantities, a
handicap. When working with text, only the
most dedicated letterpress printers can achieve results that bear
comparison with the best electronic typesetting and offset printing. If
the aim is to publish long and important texts in editions that are
beautifully typeset and printed - and to do so
at a price anyone
can afford to pay - then letterpress is no longer a
viable solution. We
typeset Castle Hill Press editions electronically in-house. They are then printed
by quality-conscious printers on acid-free
papers and bound to high standards in strong traditional sewn
bindings. Most of our publications
are produced in editions of between 200 and 750 copies. This reflects the estimated size of the
market rather than a policy of manufacturing rarities. Short-run high-quality book production is expensive, but our overheads are far lower than those of a city-centre trade publisher. That is why we are able to publish texts that would be unthinkable elsewhere. We believe, and
are frequently told, that our books represent good value for money. We sell directly to private collectors,
scholars and
libraries. In order to reduce the risks of low-margin publishing, most of our editions are offered, in the first instance, on private subscription.
Unsolicited
manuscripts
Please
do not send us a manuscript unless we have already stated in writing that
we wish to see it. Jeremy
and Nicole Wilson Related
topics: 
Postings about production from past Programme
Updates
Postings about our
publishing policy from past Programme
Updates | 