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About Us
Established in 2019, Lyra’s Books is an award-winning artisan bookbinder and independent publisher based in Shropshire, UK.
We specialise in hand-bound, low limitation Fine Press editions.
About Us
Our Story
Lyra’s Books was established by bookbinder Richard Tong. We produce luxury, handmade books combining traditional bookbinding skills with fine press printing, illustration and contemporary design. Our aim is simple: to make beautiful books in small quantities, using the finest materials and craftsmanship.
Richard has worked for many years at Ludlow Bookbinders and continues to do so alongside running Lyra’s Books. Being based at Ludlow gives us access to a dedicated team of highly skilled binders, whose experience and expertise allow us to produce books of exceptional quality.
In early 2018, Richard was presented with the prestigious Elizabeth Soutar Award for his binding of American Gods. More recently, Lyra’s Books was awarded Best British Book 2025 at the British Book Design & Production Awards for the Lettered Edition of The Alchemist.
Over the years, Richard has produced many finely bound books which now form part of private collections and public libraries around the world. Through Lyra’s Books, he continues to bring together the traditional craft of bookbinding with the work of artists, designers and printers to create limited-edition books that are made to be treasured.
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.