Category talk:Publishers

Overview

The Folio Society is an independent publisher founded in 1947 that produces high-end collector copies of books. Though it has a reputation for publishing classics, The Folio Society has expanded to popular contemporary literature as well. Each edition is artisanally crafted and uniquely illustrated, prompting many bibliophiles to form communities surrounding the collection of Folio Editions. The company emphasizes that its products are not only reading material, but works of art, touting that its products are “for book lovers, by book lovers.”

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Mission and History

The Folio Society was founded by Charles Ede, inspired by a desire to liven up the book market in England. Ede sought reprieve from the days of paper rationing and argued that the working class should have access to attractive, hard cover books, in contrast to the flimsy, disposable, and unremarkable paperbacks of the era. The Folio Society initially operated as a subscription book club, that is, members would sign up to receive books. However, in 2011, it opened its doors to non-members, allowing everyone access to any given edition for sale, and terminated the membership system on September first, 2016. The company’s focus was initially on classic literature, however, it broke out of this mold with the addition of the world’s first English translation of The Trial of Joan of Arc to its collection in 1956. After that landmark, The Folio Society began to hire artists with increasing levels of skill and uniqueness, producing striking volumes that were not just the standard for collector books, but actual works of art. The Folio Society underwent leadership changes in 1971 when it was purchased by John Letts and Halfdan Lynner. Later, Lord Gavron bought it in 1982 and chaired the company until he died in 2015. His wife then assumed his station until the company converted its business model to an employee ownership trust in 2021.

Business Structure

The Folio Society operates as a multi-national, employee-owned, for-profit business. An estimated 54 employees work for The Folio Society as editors, designers, and crafts-workers. With total assets of $18.85M and global sales resulting in $20.02M, it exceeds expectations for a small, independent publisher.

Publishing Program

Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings saga is perfect for exemplifying the Folio Society’s signature slip covers. The slip cover is renowned for being high quality and serving the purpose of protecting the book bindings. Books that belong to a certain set can easily be recognized as such by the way their slip cover groups them. Sets like these may cost over $200.

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Agatha Christie

The novels and stories of Agatha Christie are advertised on the Collections tab of the company’s website. The collections harken back to the days when The Folio Society published mainly classics while displaying vivid cover art by new illustrators to cater to a modern audience.

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The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles is an example of the newer titles The Folio Society is becoming increasingly recognized for. The book represents its brand by presenting a classic setting and motifs, while being written by a popular modern author, ideal for drawing in the next generation of bibliophiles.

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Community

The Folio Society’s Instagram and Facebook make a new post every day, most of them displaying one the editions they have for sale, and the illustrators talk about their creative process. Other posts are video tours of their supply houses and production process. The publisher often teases its audience with video samples of the book’s cover, pages, and subject matter. Originally, members had to buy a subscription to procure Folio Editions, but now anyone can buy a copy individually. Still, its reputation as a seller of collector items builds community among book collectors who like to show off and discuss their purchases. Fans have a fairly active subreddit where they discuss new editions, discounts, events, and book repairs. Additional forums where fans meet include the Fans of the Folio Society Facebook group and the Folio Society Devotees public forum. Engagement is typically driven by the cover art rather than the content of the books, and fans especially enjoy buying copies of their favorite books in the esteemed format of a Folio Edition.

Reputation and Impact

Overall, The Folio Society took an inspiring turn in the publishing industry. Its insistence on beauty and quality in an age that valued efficiency over all else broke the industry mold and invited a new era of artisan craftwork. Its reputation for lasting utilitarian and aesthetic products has lasted since its conception and become strengthened by its inclusion of newer, more popular titles. The main controversy present is that the volumes have increased in price, becoming harder to afford for what its founder Ede had originally intended to be a working class audience. Nonetheless, collectors revere these passionate displays of artwork and honor the teamwork and creativity that goes into producing them. A potential avenue for expansion of The Folio Society’s brand is the booming community of BookTok and Bookstagram. Some of its titles like The Song of Achilles fare especially well on these sites, and book unboxings or book haul content could jump start a new wave of popularity for The Folio Society.

References

Works Cited

D&B Hoovers. “Folio Society Limited(The).” Avention, 2025, https://app.avention.com/company/9e3bad49-5477-3e11-b066-ee41be994bc8#report/company_summary. Accessed 10 October 2025.

“Folio Society.” Beautiful Books, https://beautifulbooks.info/illustratedbibliographies/folio-society/. Accessed 10 October 2025.

The Folio Society. “Beautifully Illustrated Hardcover Books.” Folio Society, https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/. Accessed 10 October 2025.

Salkowitz, Rob. “How Folio Editions Expanded Its Audience.” Publishers Weekly, 6 June 2025, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/97926-u-k-publishing-in-2025-how-folio-editions-expanded-its-audience.html. Accessed 10 October 2025.