- Tuttle Publishing
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Tuttle Publishing Parent company Periplus Publishing Group Founded 1948 Founder Charles E. Tuttle Country of origin United States of America Headquarters location Clarendon, Vermont Key people Michael Sargent (Manager) Publication types Books Revenue US$2.5–$5 million (estimated, 2010) Number of employees 40 (estimated, 2010) Official website tuttlepublishing.com Tuttle Publishing, originally the Charles E. Tuttle Company, is a book publishing company that includes Tuttle, Periplus Editions, and Journey Editions.[1][2] A company profile describes it as an "International publisher of innovative books on design, cooking, martial arts, language, travel and spirituality with a focus on China, Japan and South East Asia."[3] Many of its books on Asian martial arts, particularly those on Japanese martial arts, were the first widely-read publications on these subjects in the English language.[4]
Contents
History
Publisher and book dealer Charles E. Tuttle (1915–1993) founded the company in 1948 in Tokyo, Japan, with the aim of publishing "books to span the East and West."[1][4][5] It was the 31st corporation approved by the occupying Allied administration.[4] In its first year of operation, the company imported and distributed US paperback publications to the occupying forces, and the next year, it released its first publication.[4] From 1951, it published many books on the Japanese language, arts, and culture, as well as translations of Japanese works into the English language.[4]
In 1953, part of the company was separated to form a new, partially-owned company, Yohan, which took on responsibility for distributing US paperback books and magazines.[4] The Charles E. Tuttle Company retained responsibility for distributing UK publications.[4] In 1991, under chief executive Peter Ackroyd,[a] a planned acquisition of the Atlantic Monthly Press failed to eventuate.[6][7] According to executives, "Tuttle, which specializes in Japanese and other Asian books, came to feel that it was putting its existing business at risk by acquiring Atlantic."[7] In 1996, the company changed its name to Tuttle Publishing.[8]
Since its founding, Tuttle has published more than 6,000 books and today maintains an active backlist of around 2,000 titles.[citation needed] The company now produces 150 new titles each year, most of which still focus on the areas of Asian interest that Tuttle has long been known for—everything from Asian literature and language learning to cooking, art, crafts, and design.[9]
Founder
Main article: Charles E. TuttleThe company’s founder, Charles Egbert Tuttle, Jr., was a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University.[4] He joined the US military and was stationed in Japan immediately after World War II, working on General Douglas MacArthur’s staff. His job, among other things, was to help revive the Japanese publishing industry after the war.[4] After his military service was completed, he decided to stay on in Japan and set up his own business importing English-language books and magazines and exporting rare Japanese antiquarian books to U.S. libraries.
Tuttle came from a distinguished New England publishing family.[4][10] His father ran Tuttle Antiquarian Books[citation needed]—one of several Tuttle companies in Rutland that had been involved with printing and publishing since the 1830s. At university, he studied American history and literature.[4] After graduating in 1937, he worked in the library of Columbia University for a year, then joined the family business.[4][5] His interest in publishing 'quality' books about Japan and Asia, and his keen eye for design and editorial matters as a publisher, grew out of an appreciation for the valuable antiquarian books that he dealt with as a youth.[9]
Current status
According to UNESCO (2002, 2007), Tuttle Publishing is the most active publisher of books teaching Japanese to the English-speaking world, and English to the Japanese-speaking world.[11][12] The company has also published books on Tagalog.[13] The company publishes more than 40 products that teach Chinese, 20 that teach Korean, 20 for Indonesian, and numerous products on other Asian languages such as Burmese, Cambodian, Lao, Malay, Thai, and Vietnamese. Tuttle published its first Arabic phrasebook in 2004[14] and, in 2009, its first introduction to Modern Standard Hindi.[15]
As of 2010, out of the company's top 20 best-selling books, 11 are martial arts titles.[16] Tuttle Publishing is estimated to have annual sales of US$2.5–$5 million, and a staff of around 40 people.[8] It has offices in North Clarendon (in Vermont, USA), Singapore, Tokyo, and Jakarta.[1] Leading officers are Michael Sargent (Manager), David Loseby (Finance Executive), and Christopher Johns (Sales & Marketing Director).[8]See also
Notes
a. ^ This is not the same person as the British author by the same name.
References
- ^ a b c Tutttle Publishing: About us Retrieved on April 17, 2010.
- ^ Grant, T. (1997): International directory of company histories (Vol. 86, 2nd ed., pp. 404–405). Chicago, IL: Saint James Press. (ISBN 978-1-5586-2590-7)
- ^ The London Book Fair: Tuttle Publishing (2010). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Ingleton, N. (1993): Obituary: Charles E. Tuttle The Independent (July 7, 1993). Retrieved on April 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Saxon, W. (1993): Obituary: Charles Tuttle, 78, a dealer in books on US-Asian ties New York Times (June 11, 1993). Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
- ^ Cohen, R. (1991): Small House to buy Atlantic Monthly Press New York Times (June 24, 1991). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ a b Cohen, R. (1991): The Atlantic Monthly Press is sold to one of its editors New York Times (August 30, 1991). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c Manta: Tuttle Publishing (Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (2010). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ a b Tuttle Publishing (2008): General trade catalog.
- ^ Edwards, B. (2006): Used book shop closes its doors Rutland Herald (July 20, 2006). Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
- ^ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Literature & translation – Charles E. Tuttle Publishing (Japan) (October 9, 2002). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Culture – Charles E. Tuttle Publishing (Japan) (2007). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ Tuttle Publishing: Unparalleled marketplace for Filipino children’s books & educational Tagalog language materials East Villagers (February 25, 2010). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
- ^ Tuttle Publishing (2004): Fall 2004 catalog.
- ^ Tuttle Publishing (2010): Fall 2010 catalog.
- ^ Tuttle Publishing: Top 20 bestsellers Retrieved on April 19, 2010.
External links
- Tuttle Publishing
- Books by ISBN: Tuttle Publishing lists books published by the company.
- Tuttle-Mori Agency: Corporate profile contains a photograph of founder C. E. Tuttle with his wife and nephew (c. 1980).
Categories:- Publishing companies established in 1948
- Book publishing companies of Japan
- Book publishing companies of the United States
- Companies based in Vermont
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