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Carlton Books has launched a high-quality illustrated imprint, producing "unique" art, design and architecture titles, defying concerns about the medium-term outlook for the market.
As reported by The Bookseller, illustrated publishing has struggled over the first half of 2009, with double-digit slides in sales at New Holland, Phaidon and Quadrille. The latter alone saw revenues decline by 43.2%, the greatest drop for any publisher over the period.
But Carlton m.d. Jonathan Goodman argued the high-end nature of his list meant that it would not be affected by a drop in discretionary spending. He said: "They are not mass market products. They are aimed at the connoisseur or enthusiast. The level at which they are pitched, I don't think price will be a problem."
Goodman Books, created by Goodman, with editorial director Piers Murray Hill commissioning, was soft-launched in February with Lost Buildings and added to in May with Andy Warhol Treasures. Both titles are £30 hardbacks.
In September, these will be followed by The Art of Classic Rock, and a further three titles are due this autumn: Dalí Treasures in October; The Contemporary Art Book in November; and, in December, a "high-profile design book", YOO Interiors, created alongside the YOO team—Phillipe Starck, Jade Jagger, Marcel Wanders and John Hitchcox.
Goodman said eight to 10 titles would be released next year, and initial print runs would be roughly 20,000. The imprint will use specialist printers in Asia, rather than Carlton's usual partners.