Beautiful words deserve beautiful paper, beautiful type, and beautiful covers, don't you agree?
Those of us who prefer vinyl to MP3, a wristwatch to a glimpse at a phone screen, or Polaroids to .jpg files know what pleasure there is to be had in the holding of a weighty, textured tome rather than a sleek device. Happily, this is the ethos of The Folio Society (as well as The Simple Things), which has been publishing the most charmingly crafted editions of fiction and non-fiction since 1947.
With research to show that readers absorb less on Kindles than on paper, bookworms are becoming increasingly attached to paper and print. The Folio Society respects this with an attention to detail rarely found in publishing nowadays. The books they select for publication are timeless – books to be enjoyed and appreciated now and in the future. Because each book is considered as an individual object of value in its own right, there is a variety to The Folio Society aesthetic. The only uniformity is in the quality of every single book.
Illustrations are carefully commissioned, complementing each book to perfection. Emerging talents (including Jonathan Burton, Jillian Tamaki, Sam Weber, and Anna and Elena Balbusso) sit alongside seasoned masters (such as Quentin Blake, Paula Rego, John Vernon Lord and Tom Phillips) to produce new works of art. Wood engravings, paintings, collages, pen and ink, digital ... variety is at the heart of Folio’s remarkable catalogue of commissioned artwork.
Marrying form and content, every book is a labour of love, a true work of art in its own right. Each comes in a unique slipcase, reinforcing the publisher’s raison d’etre - these books are made to treasure, to enjoy, to pass down.
The Folio Society places huge value on the craftsmanship of bookbinders, printers, traditional letterpress and marbling experts, investing in these unique skills to create their unique volumes.
Take a look at these beautiful films for a glimpse into how the books are made.
Words by Lottie Storey
Turn to page 71 of February's The Simple Things for our selection of romantic books - perfect Valentine's Day gifts. Buy, download or subscribe now.