Horizon Press ; Publisher

New Books and Backlist 1984–1985 [Publisher's Catalog] [Horizon Press Publishing Archive] [Ben Raeburn Era]

New York: Horizon Press, 1984.
INSIDE HORIZON PRESS —
A remarkably informative publisher's catalog documenting the active frontlist and backlist of Horizon Press during the mid-1980s. Far more than a simple sales brochure, the volume serves as a compact snapshot of the editorial interests, publishing priorities, and commercial identity of one of New York's notable independent literary publishers. 

Produced from Horizon Press headquarters at 156 Fifth Avenue, the catalog captures the press during its later independent years, presenting an unusually broad publishing program that ranges across literature, biography, Jewish studies, music history, mathematics, art, and emerging urban culture. For collectors of publishing history, the volume functions as a contemporary self-portrait of the firm and the books it chose to keep in print.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with book jacket reproductions, promotional graphics, and descriptive publisher copy. 
+++ Binding: Original printed stapled wrappers featuring the stylized 'hp' logo on covers. 
+++ Content: Full trade details of the frontlist and backlist, including Charles Neider's Antarctic novel 'Overflight', Paul Oliver's blues studies, Frank MacShane's biography of Ford Madox Ford, 'The Great Jewish Books', 'Letters of Dostoevsky', and Jesus Sterling's 'Kings & Toys: Graffiti from the Inside'. 
+++ Imprint: New York: Horizon Press, 1984. +++ Specs: Square format; approximately 7.25 x 7.25 inches; 52 pages plus publisher's order form.

CONDITION: Near Fine. The bindings are tight and secure, with the staples remaining completely sound. The internal pages are clean and free of markings, showing only light, even age-toning. The wraps show minor shelf handling and light age-toning to the extremities, but remain a well-preserved, unsophisticated example of an ephemeral trade publication not generally intended for long-term survival.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Founded by Ben Raeburn, Horizon Press occupied an important place within postwar American independent publishing. This catalog documents the firm's mature publishing program and offers a contemporary view of how Horizon presented itself to booksellers, libraries, educators, and distributors. As such, it serves as a useful primary-source document for the study of publishing history and the independent press movement.

The catalog presents an unusually diverse publishing program. Featured titles include Charles Neider's Antarctic novel 'Overflight', Paul Oliver's influential blues studies, Frank MacShane's biography of Ford Madox Ford, 'The Great Jewish Books', 'Letters of Dostoevsky', and Jesus Sterling's 'Kings & Toys: Graffiti from the Inside', among many others.

Beyond the individual titles, the catalog reveals how Horizon Press positioned its authors and marketed its books to the trade. Full-page descriptions, pricing information, foreign distribution arrangements, ISBN data, and ordering instructions provide insight into the mechanics of independent publishing during the 1980s. Particularly appealing is the catalog's documentation of books that have since developed collecting followings of their own, including early graffiti studies, blues scholarship, literary biography, and translated works. As a result, the catalog functions not merely as an advertising piece but as a record of Horizon Press's editorial vision.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Socio-Historical Context: Serves as a vital primary document for independent publishing mechanics in the 1980s, revealing how the firm positioned its authors, priced its inventory, and established international distribution arrangements just prior to the close of the era.
+++ Literary Influence: Captures the final phase of Ben Raeburn's enduring editorial vision, mapping out the survival strategy of a mid-century literary powerhouse adapting to the modern trade landscape.
+++ Design & Marketing: Provides an essential bibliographic checklist for specific high-spot fields, notably documenting early urban graffiti studies, blues scholarship, and postwar literary biography within a single corporate landscape.

SUBJECTS: Horizon Press, Ben Raeburn, Independent Publishing, New York Publishing, Publisher Catalogs, Bookselling History, Literary History, Small Presses, Book Trade Ephemera, Publishing History, Bookselling History, Literary Ephemera, Small Press Studies, Americana, Ephemera, Publisher's Archive.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Unrecorded in standard institutional library checklists; localized trade ephemera.

Item #22086

Price: $125.00