Winding down
Ash Smith / 2023.06.12
As part of the process of winding down Hyphen Press’s sales, we have now closed our agreement with our UK distributor. This means that any in-print book or CD must be bought directly from this website.
An index to the journal
Ash Smith / 2023.01.14
Last year we moved this website to a new hosting company and into a new CMS (WordPress). The appearance of the website has changed only in some details. This has provided an opportunity to check through content, and especially to look at and try to mend the now many broken links. This is a large and still continuing project. It has also provided the occasion to update the occasional indexes to the journal that have been offered here. These are now consolidated as the present post.
Shipping orders to the USA
Ash Smith / 2020.08.21
Following the recent sharp increase in prices for sending packets by airmail from the UK to the USA, we will ship lower value packets to the USA with surface mail. For orders with a value of £80 and over, we will use a courier.
Sales from this website: new
Ash Smith / 2020.07.04
After a long break during the period of lockdown, we are now able to sell books and music CDs from this website.
Sales from this website
Ash Smith / 2020.03.20
At present, due to restrictions of movement during the outbreak of Covid-19, our office is closed and we cannot respond to orders from books from this website.
Winter holidays
Ash Smith / 2019.12.06
The office is closed for orders for books and CDs, from 6 to 16 December. Orders received during this period will be dispatched on 17 December.
Price reduction
Ash Smith / 2019.09.26
Christopher Wilson’s Richard Hollis designs for the Whitechapel now sells for £15.
Our books with other publishers
Ash Smith / 2019.09.25
As Hyphen Press gradually winds down its activities, we are passing titles on to other, sympathetic publishers.
Summer holidays 2019
Ash Smith / 2019.07.09
The office is closed for orders for books and CDs, from 10 to 28 July. Orders received during this period will be dispatched on 29 July.
‘Type spaces’ download
Ash Smith / 2019.03.11
Peter Burnhill’s book Type spaces, published in 2003, has been out of print for several years. The author died in 2007 and there is no question of revising the book – though one might write another one, extending its material and qualifying its ideas. As a service to readers, we are making the work available again as a free download
‘Typeform dialogues’, second edition
Ash Smith / 2019.01.08
Last month we uploaded a second, much extended, edition of the ‘Typeform dialogues’ document, first published here in 2012.
Summer holidays 2018
Ash Smith / 2018.07.11
The office is closed for orders for books and CDs, from 12 to 28 July. Orders received during this period will be dispatched on 30 July.
Price reductions 2018
Ash Smith / 2018.01.16
From today we have reduced the price of a number of books
Office closed for orders, 11–17 December
Ash Smith / 2017.12.10
The Hyphen Press office is closed this week.
‘Winter light’: a new book
Ash Smith / 2017.02.16
A couple of months ago, just before Christmas, we published a new book: Winter light, and other poems by Jane Howard. This small book (a single section of 32 pages, stapled and with a jacket wrapped around) collects poems written over many years.
Website sales before Christmas
Ash Smith / 2016.12.16
The Hyphen Press office is closed now until 24 December. This means that during these days we cannot process and send out any orders made from this website for books and CDs. Any orders received now will be attended to promptly in the days immediately after Christmas.
‘Richard Holllis designs for the Whitechapel’: progress
Ash Smith / 2016.11.25
Our Richard Hollis designs for the Whitechapel is perhaps the most anticipated, most delayed work on which we have worked. Christopher Wilson’s book was first announced to the world in November 2012, as due for publication in spring 2013. Since then the work has grown and become elaborated.
‘Typography papers 9’, and ‘Isotype’
Ash Smith / 2013.12.10
Copies of our two new titles arrived in the office recently, and we are releasing them for sale today. These are Typography papers 9, edited by Eric Kindel and Paul Luna, and Isotype: design and contexts, 1925–1971, edited by Christopher Burke, Eric Kindel, and Sue Walker.
In translation
Ash Smith / 2013.10.18
One of the most gratifying and interesting moments in book-publishing is seeing a book of ours issued by another publisher in a translated edition.
‘Detail in typography’ out of print
Ash Smith / 2013.05.08
We have sold the last copies of Jost Hochuli’s Detail in typography (2008, reprinted in 2009). Demand for this book continues, but we have decided not to make a reprint.
‘Typeform dialogues’
Ash Smith / 2012.11.26
We have today posted – free to download – a document that gathers materials from the Typeform dialogues project, carried out by Eric Kindel, Catherine Dixon, and others at Central Saint Martins, London, in 1994–8 and afterwards.
Book and zine fair, Spike Island
Ash Smith / 2012.10.15
This Saturday 20 October we are taking part in the book and zine fair at Spike Island, Bristol – not because we publish experimental literature (we don’t), but because of some Bristol connections (starting with Norman Potter) and because of an exhibition there of pieces designed and printed Desmond Jeffery.
Frankfurt 2012
Ash Smith / 2012.10.05
Our books and catalogues are at the Buchmesse, on the stand of Coen Sligting Bookimport: Halle 4.1, K547.
Shipping costs within the UK
Ash Smith / 2012.04.28
Until now we have had a policy of not charging UK customers for the carriage of books and CDs bought from this website. But, on Monday, the Royal Mail is raising its charges markedly. Postage costs will represent an even larger proportion of a purchase – and we have decided now to introduce charges to cover our costs.
The cover of ‘Fellow readers’
Ash Smith / 2012.04.26
This is the cover of the pamphlet Fellow readers: notes on multiplied language, which Hyphen Press put out in 1994. The piece was prompted by the debates over typography that had been published in the pages of Emigre and Eye magazines, and elsewhere. A participant in this discussion, I saw the chance to make a more extended contribution when my book Modern typography was coming up for a reprint.
Twitter fascination
Ash Smith / 2012.04.16
Postings in this journal column have been light over the last few months. This is partly just because we’ve been busy. But it is partly due to having opened a Twitter account (@hyphenpress).
Our fifth CD
Ash Smith / 2012.03.14
Copies of our fifth CD arrived in the office last week. This is a double CD, offering an extensive selection of pieces by the two composers, Johann Pachelbel and J.S. Bach.
Returning
Ash Smith / 2012.01.22
Many apologies to anyone who has been trying to find this website in the last few days. Our provider had put it on a new server – with essential elements missing, and nothing showed. But now we’re back.
A pause, and greetings
Ash Smith / 2011.12.23
Our office is now closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Any orders made on the website will be gratefully received during this period – but the books and CDs cannot be posted to you until the first week of January. Greetings of the season!
‘Type spaces’ sold out in Europe
Ash Smith / 2011.11.20
We have sold the last copy of Peter Burnhill’s book Type spaces. Our North American distributor, Princeton Architectural Press, still has some copies left.
Catalogue & almanack 2011–2012
Ash Smith / 2011.10.21
We have produced a new catalogue and almanack (for 2011–2012) and will be distributing copies primarily at book fairs, conferences, lectures, and other public events, and will send a copy to anyone who buys books from our website.
At Frankfurt 2011
Ash Smith / 2011.10.12
This week at the Frankfurt Book Fair our books will be at the stand of our Dutch distributor, Coen Sligting: Halle 4.1, N547.
‘Counterpunch’: second edition at the printer
Ash Smith / 2011.09.06
The long-delayed and much-anticipated second edition of this book is now in the last stages of production: it was printed yesterday and now goes to the binder. We expect that copies will go on sale in Europe at the end of this month.
Price reductions
Ash Smith / 2011.07.23
We have reduced the prices of these books: Models & Constructs, Anthony Froshaug, and A view of early typography.
A waking dream
Ash Smith / 2011.06.09
Every publisher or author’s dream is to see someone reading their book on the bus or underground train. This really happened to us with Jost Hochuli’s Detail in typography.
‘Designing books’: out of print
Ash Smith / 2011.05.27
The original hardback edition (1996) and the subsequent paperback edition (2003, reprinted 2007) of this book have now sold out. Despite its popularity, we have decided to let the book stay out of print now.
‘Human space’ arrived
Ash Smith / 2011.05.05
Human space, our edition of O.F. Bollnow’s Mensch und Raum, is at last finished.
‘Printed matter’: the three editions
Ash Smith / 2011.02.23
Clear proof that you need to get the third edition, even if you already have the second and the first.
Paul Stiff
Ash Smith / 2011.02.15
Paul Stiff died in Reading last Saturday. He was a great friend, over 35 years, and shared in much of what has issued from Hyphen Press – especially, of course, Typography papers.
‘Typography papers’: a list of contents
Ash Smith / 2011.01.09
We get quite frequent enquiries about Typography papers: which issues are still available? how best to try to get hold of out-of-print numbers? contents of the back numbers? And, from subscription agencies: please send us the issue for 2010!
Recent production
Ash Smith / 2010.12.01
Three books and a music CD have been published in the last couple of months. There will be a pause for breath now.
‘Printed matter’ 3 (update 2)
Ash Smith / 2010.11.30
We do now have copies of the new edition of Printed matter / Drukwerk in the office.
‘Modern typography’ reprinted
Ash Smith / 2010.11.09
The book Modern typography has just been reprinted and copies are on sale now.
‘Printed matter’ 3 (update 1)
Ash Smith / 2010.10.29
We have had many enquiries about this book. So, further to the last post here: the first batch of books has been bound and is now waiting to be put into boxes.
‘Printed matter’ 3
Ash Smith / 2010.09.10
The third edition of Karel Martens’s Printed matter / Drukwerk is being printed by Thoben in Nijmegen now; sheets will then be sent to the binders, Hendricks–Lützenkirchen in Kleve, across the border in Germany.
Tweet!
Ash Smith / 2010.05.26
We have opened a twitter account, with the promise to restrict it to hard news.
Exhibition pamphlet posted
Ash Smith / 2010.05.06
The pamphlet can be seen here at the Werkplaats Typografie, Arnhem, posted in a way that makes sense.
London Book Fair 2010
Ash Smith / 2010.04.15
We are at the London Book Fair next week, with a metre-width of space at stand E200.
International Project Space exhibition
Ash Smith / 2010.03.25
Our exhibition at International Project Space opened last Saturday and will be there until 8 May. The show could be an occasion for a visit to the model village of Bourneville. In some respects the exhibition tries to be a model too.
Hyphen Press in Birmingham
Ash Smith / 2010.02.16
International Project Space, at Bourneville (Birmingham, UK), is the host for a Hyphen Press exhibition opening on 20 March and running through to 8 May.
Price changes: less good news
Ash Smith / 2010.01.04
Books are zero-rated for Value Aded Tax in the UK, but CDs are not. From this week, the rate of VAT on CDs goes up from 15 to 17.5 per cent.
Price changes: good news
Ash Smith / 2010.01.03
As from today we are reducing the price of Fred Smeijers’s Type now, from £17.50 to £10. The book was made on the occasion of the award of the Gerrit Noordzij prize to Smeijers and surveys his work up to then (November 2003).
The new year, 2010
Ash Smith / 2010.01.02
Thanks to everyone who sent greetings and good wishes for the new year.
Hyphen in Paris
Ash Smith / 2009.11.16
It has always been difficult to see our books in France. But copies of most of them are now on sale at Section 7 Books in Paris.
‘At …’ arrived
Ash Smith / 2009.11.14
We have received copies of the next book, Peter Campbell’s At ….
Hyphen Press catalogue & almanack 2009–2010
Ash Smith / 2009.10.30
The Hyphen Press catalogue for 2009–2010 was ready (as is traditional) just in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair. New books are announced here, and every in-print title is shown too.
UK postal workers on strike
Ash Smith / 2009.10.29
During the present postal strike in the UK supply of books and CDs ordered from the website may be slow.
Hyphen in Amsterdam
Ash Smith / 2009.10.05
Through this month and next, some of our core books are on display and for sale at the Kunstverein in Amsterdam.
‘Type spaces’ discovery
Ash Smith / 2009.09.11
In another of those warehouse discoveries, a few copies of the late Peter Burnhill’s Type spaces have come to light, after we had declared it out of print here (our North American distributor still has some left). There are several reasons to get hold of this book, which we are unlikely now to reprint. The […]
‘Modern typography’ in translation
Ash Smith / 2009.07.26
One of the most pleasing aspects of publishing is to see translated editions of your books appearing. Italian, Spanish, and now Korean editions of Modern typography have been made in recent years. Meanwhile our own second edition of the work is out of print and awaiting a reprint, with corrections and small updatings. We hope […]
‘Transformer’ arrived
Ash Smith / 2009.05.21
We now have copies of this book, which this month goes on sale generally in the UK, the Netherlands, and elsewhere in Europe. It is of course also for sale from our website. Those in North America – to whom we can’t sell from the website – will need to wait at least a couple […]
Information Design Conference 2009
Ash Smith / 2009.03.22
From 2 to 3 April the Information Design Association in the UK is holding a two-day conference at the University of Greenwich, London – admirers of Christopher Wren’s work will have good reasons to go and then get distracted.
Back online
Ash Smith / 2009.03.09
This website has been offline for the last three days, for inexplicable technical reasons, but is now restored.
Kinross at the KB
Ash Smith / 2009.02.04
From this week to the end of June, Robin Kinross is living and working in the Netherlands: taking up this year’s Fellowship at the Konkinklijke Bibliotheek [Royal Library].
E.C. Large novels have arrived
Ash Smith / 2008.10.22
We have received our first copies of Sugar in the air and Asleep in the afternoon.
Merchandise
Ash Smith / 2008.06.25
Now that we are preparing to publish CDs, a reader has suggested that we consider selling Swiss chocolate (‘in various point sizes’) and sweaters (‘Norman-Potter-style pullover with cross-patterns’).
‘Counterpunch’ discovery
Ash Smith / 2008.06.12
Not for the first time in the history of publishing, a book that had been declared ‘out of print’ makes a return to availability.
‘Detail in typography’ arrived
Ash Smith / 2008.06.11
Copies of Hochuli’s Detail in typography have arrived in London. The book is officially published later this month.
Edward Wright
Ash Smith / 2008.05.23
We are now selling copies of the book Edward Wright: readings, writings, published last year by the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading.
Hyphen Press catalogue & almanack 2008
Ash Smith / 2008.04.16
We have just received finished copies of our new catalogue of books.
London Book Fair 2008
Ash Smith / 2008.04.14
We are present at the London Book Fair (14–16 April) c/o our new UK distributor, Publishers Group UK.
UK distribution
Ash Smith / 2008.03.25
From the beginning of April our books will be distributed in the UK by Publishers Group UK.
New titles (2)
Ash Smith / 2008.02.28
We are announcing some new titles for publication in the course of 2008, which will add more than just numbers to the list.
Renner re-clothed
Ash Smith / 2007.08.14
To coincide with the launch of Christopher Burke’s new book, we have put a new jacket on the remaining copies of his first book, Paul Renner.
London Book Fair 2007
Ash Smith / 2007.04.15
We are taking part in the London Book Fair, at Earls Court, from 16 to 18 April.
Next books
Ash Smith / 2005.10.10
We now have printed sheets of The stroke; finished copies should be available in Europe before the end of the month. Typography papers 6 is running as late as its quality will be high; we expect finished copies in December.
Representation in the UK
Ash Smith / 2005.08.06
From this month, Hyphen Press books are represented to the book-trade by Troika.
Nordic distribution
Ash Smith / 2004.05.03
Coen Sligting in Amsterdam now has a representative in the Nordic countries.
The new year 2004
Ash Smith / 2003.12.30
Greetings to friends and colleagues for the new year. Instead of a greetings card, you may like to look at a snowy image of the place in which we now work, run by Workplace Co-operative 115 Ltd.
Buying our books
Ash Smith / 2003.12.01
All Hyphen Press books can now be bought direct from the website of our UK distributor, Central Books.
‘A view of early typography’ published
Ash Smith / 2002.03.28
Our reprint of Harry Carter’s A view of early typography: up to about 1600 is published in Europe today. In some weeks’ time copies will be available in North and South America, via Princeton Architectural Press, and in Australia, via Books at Manic.
New titles
Ash Smith / 2002.02.14
The new editions of Karel Martens: printed matter / drukwerk and of Norman Potter’s What is a designer are now finished and have been published in Europe. Copies of both titles are on their way to the USA and will be available this spring in North and South America through Princeton Architectural Press.
New typeface
Ash Smith / 2002.02.13
The new edition of Norman Potter’s What is a designer is set in the typeface Arnhem, designed by Fred Smeijers. Arnhem was designed and developed from 1998 onwards for a redesign of the Nederlandse Staatscourant that was undertaken by the Werkplaats Typografie in Arnhem (thus the name).
New distribution arrangements
Ash Smith / 2001.09.08
In North and South America, all Hyphen Press titles are now distributed by Princeton Architectural Press. In Australia, all titles are distributed by Books at Manic.
‘A view of early typography’
Ash Smith / 2001.07.22
We are planning a reprint of Harry Carter’s A view of early typography: up to about 1600.
This site
Ash Smith / 2001.01.14
After too many months of languishing in outdated and bug-filled form, this website now reappears in a ‘second edition’.
Out of slumber
Ash Smith / 2000.08.14
It is almost a year since the last news item was added. Several small bits of information on the site are out of date, and there are aspects of its design and functioning that need attention. We are now working on an overhaul, and hope to put up a ‘second edition’ in September.
Future publications
Ash Smith / 1999.09.05
We are working hard towards publication of the next books.
LIBF 99
Ash Smith / 1999.02.20
The London International Bookfair happens (28 to 30 March) in the airy halls of Olympia. We will be there, sharing stand G142 with Libris Books.
The new year 1999
Ash Smith / 1998.12.31
Since publishing Paul Renner in October, we have gone into quiet preparation mode.