Favorite Art Book Publisher

Specific content aside, I find sometimes that the decision to purchase a particular art book is often influenced by who the publisher is and their reputation for producing quality books. I might choose a book produced by Skira, Hudson Hills, or Yale University Press over books by Abrams or Taschen. Abrams is the worst in my opinion which is a shame because they used to be the leader 20 years ago.

Who do you think the best publishers are these days?

I might not be of much help since most of my art books are at least 20 years old, but I still like Taschen because they go to places that other publishers don't - often on the popular even dark side of the art spectrum.

Pomegranate Books are beautifully done. I received one of their publications, Utagawa Kuniyoshi: the Sixty-nine stations of the Kisokaidō, as an ER book, and was completely blown away by the quality of it, text, reproductions, the physical book itself.

The quality is spotty these days due to the increasing costs. The University presses, such as Yale, Princeton, and Cambridge continue to turn out high quality art books. So does Phaidon. Another thing I've noticed is that the highest quality art books these days seem to be printed in Italy regardless of where the publisher is located.

I think that Taschen is doing a really great job. Their books are diverse and you can always find something unexpected from them which is I think essential for every publisher, to be able to surprise their readers.

It's Taschen for me too.

Agree with dpbrewster on the university presses.

Taschen - not generally a recommendation for me, but like carptrash said, they do have some unusual stuff (and I also like the fact that they are bringing relatively good art books to a broader audience).

I find Thames & Hudson and Phaidon mostly good too.

Sorry to hear Abrams took a down turn. I have some beautiful older books from them.

From a forgotten book called Art Through the Ages, the bibliography notes after each chapter listed the Oxford University Press.Searching for art books printed before 1980 from the New York division of The Oxford University Press.Any online search tips would be greatly appreciated.TY

Yale, specifically, has impressed me more than any other imprint.

Had you asked me in the late 1950's when I was in high school, I'd have said Skira. Then my favorite art history prof debunked the quality of their reproductions. All the art history faculty stressed the inadequacy of art reproductions to convey the true nature of works of art. During the past 50+ years, I have found this to be increasingly true. It seems that the rasters and dots in laser printing found in most print publications today cannot capture natural tonalities well, and truly do not pick up textures such as oil impastos, etc., etc.

Abrams has fewer quality publications, I agree. To find the best art books in or out of print from any publisher, hustle to Strand Books near Union Square in New York City. I like nothing better than to browse up on the arts floor. It's a rare learning experience.

I feel so sad that I missed shopping at Wittenborn Books back in the 1950's and 1960's. I adored their publications, and the one time I got there, I had very little money to spend. I'm not quite sure when they closed their business.

Aperture books are a delight...and so is the International Center for Photography's bookshop.

I pounce upon any used Rizzoli magazines I lay my eyes on if they're under $5. IF....

I adore art periodicals.

Before Virgin Union Square store folded, I loved to browse among all their Taschens. They always had some at reduced price that were lots of fun.

By and large though, the publisher is less important to me than the content of the book. Some books attract me more in paperback, like the New Museum of Contemporary Art's Younger Than Jesus exhibition catalog.

^45thParallel, please be aware that commercial advertising is not permitted under LibraryThing's terms of service (http://www.librarything.com/privacy). Since you represent Frances Lincoln, this would seem to apply to some of your recent posts.

Ok, I understand, but it IS relevant to the topic question. You specifically asked for publishers of art books, and I provided a list of several which fall in that category. Yes, we do represent them, but I don't think my post qualifies as commercial advertising when I was posting to share relevant, requested information.

Side question: does anyone read art blogs to find art books? Which blogs (or online magazines) do you like best?