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About Us
About Us
Our Story
Lyra’s Books was established by bookbinder Richard Tong. We produce luxury, handmade books using traditional skills that have been passed down through many generations of binders.
Richard has worked for many years at Ludlow Bookbinders and continues to do so while running his own fine press publishing company here at Lyra’s. Being based at Ludlow provides us with a dedicated team of highly skilled binders who are capable of creating books of historic value.
In early 2018, Richard was presented the prestigious Elizabeth Soutar award for his binding of ‘American Gods’ by Neil Gaiman. He has produced many finely bound books which now grace private collections and public libraries around the world.
Fine-Press Publishing
Lyra's Press
Following the success of our limited edition of ‘Stardust’, Lyra’s Press continues to publish fine press editions of modern titles (those which are not in the public domain). These books will be newly illustrated and may contain author signatures, where we can get them.
There will always be a Numbered and Lettered edition of these titles and sometimes, though not always, a Standard edition. We aim to release one of these titles every 12 – 18 months.
Classic Publishing
Lyra's Classics
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ARETÉ EDITIONS
Since the release of Stardust back in 2020, Richard has been working closely with Marcelo Anciano of Areté Editions. Marcelo co-owns Areté with our letterpress printer Phil Abel of Hand and Eye. Richard was brought on board to design and bind their first project, ‘The Case of Death and Honey’ by Neil Gaiman and has been designing and binding for them ever since.
The team of three (Richard, Marcelo and Phil) is the same core team that creates all of Lyra’s books and we are essentially one and the same. The only real difference being that Marcelo and Phil choose which titles are published by Areté and Richard chooses which titles are published by Lyra. Areté Editions is the only other publisher that Richard designs and binds for.
