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Since Shire’s conception in 1962 it has been our aim to produce small inexpensive books on under-published subjects – some more obscure than others! Although we have added colour pictures to a considerable number of the books in recent years and redesigned others, our objective remains the same: to publish authoritative, well-written and well-illustrated books, by experts on the subject, and to keep the price low in order to encourage the purchaser to satisfy his or her curiosity.
Even our specialist series such as the Egyptology and Archaeology books find a place in many reading lists – with their low price and expert authors, they allow the student grant to be stretched that little bit further!
It is not possible for all the Shire titles to be in print at any one time and so, with just over 500 titles currently on the list, there are at least 300 waiting their turn to be reprinted. Because each book is numbered within its series (except for a few ‘miscellaneous’ titles) Shire books have become ‘collectables’ and we have many customers trying to complete their sets.
On 29th August 2007 Shire Publications was sold to Osprey Publishing, the military-based publisher and in December will move to its offices in Oxford. However Shire will continue to maintain its presence in most UK (and many overseas) museum shops, in cathedrals and churches, heritage centres, in antiques shops and in many other outlets, as well as bookshops, of course.
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The Shire series
Most Shire books are published in series which are briefly described below.
Discovering books. Varying pagination, square-backed with spine; illustrated 177 x 113mm
Discovering handbooks. Larger-format Discovering books with extensive text, prolifically illustrated: 210 x 128 mm, square-backed throughout..
Lifelines. Biographies, illustrated in black and white, 48 pages, square-backed.
Shire Albums. Covering a wide variety of topics in about 5000 words and 50-60 black and white illustrations, 32/40 pages, saddle- stitched.
Shire Colour Albums. 40/48 pages, saddle-stitched, 5000 words and illustrated in colour and black and white.
History in Camera. Period photographs illustrating each theme. Up to 112 pages, around 100 black and white photographs, square- backed with spine.
Shire Archaeology. Expertly written monographs, about 72 pages, square-backed with spine, illustrated in black and white and line.
Shire County Guides. Complete guides to English and Welsh counties. Upto 144 pages, squared-backed with spine; revised editions with expanded text and colour illustrations.
Shire Egyptology. Authoritative monographs. About 72 pages, square-backed with spine; illustrated with black and white photographs and line.
Shire Natural History. Individual species or groups of species, written by experts. 24 pages, saddle-stitched; illustrated in colour, black and white and line.
Shire Ethnography. Expertly written monographs. About 72 pages, square-backed with spine; illustrated in black and white and line.
Shire Garden History. Attractively presented histories of upto 144 pages, square-backed with spine; extensively illustrated in colour and black and white.
Gothick Guides. County gazetteers of myths, mysteries and superstitions. About 64 pages, square-backed with spine; illustrated in black and white.
 For further information please e-mail : shire@shirebooks.co.uk |
| Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 811306 |
fax: +44 (0)1865 242009 |
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