Prosper and Martine Assouline, editors: ‘Our next book will weigh 176 pounds, cost €20,000 and sell out in two minutes’
Last summer, the couple released a volume dedicated to Jay-Z that was auctioned off for over $150,000. ‘Our books are for people who already have it all,’ they explain
Prosper and Martine Assouline, editors of Assouline Publishing, reveal their ambitious plans for their next book. The Assoulines, a couple with Moroccan-Jewish and French aristocratic backgrounds, have been creating unique and luxurious books for over 30 years. Their latest creation, a book about Colombian artist Fernando Botero, will be a masterpiece to behold.
The book, which will stand an impressive 3.6 feet high and 6.5 feet wide when open, will weigh a staggering 176 pounds. Assouline Publishing aims to create books that are not only a visual delight but also a sensory experience. Each book is designed to be left on a living room shelf and admired, rather than consumed from cover to cover.
The Assoulines' latest project features a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles, with a special edition bound in Fortuny fabric from Venice, costing $1,000 alone. For the Formula 1 book, they even created the smell of rubber to enhance the reading experience. The Assoulines take pride in their books' high prices, stating that their publishing house does not accept sales or returns, ensuring the utmost quality.
Their most expensive book to date was a special edition of Jay-Z's biography, released last August, featuring five volumes, each sold for $100,000. The fifth volume was auctioned at Christie's for a remarkable $163,000. Their upcoming book, dedicated to Fernando Botero, is expected to cost €20,000 and will sell out in just two minutes.
The Assoulines' vision extends beyond the realm of books, as they aim to bring the same luxury and uniqueness to other domains, such as art, fashion, interior design, travel, and sports. They have successfully transformed their passion for the corner of the world represented by La Colombe d’Or hotel into an empire of over 2,500 titles and 18 stores worldwide, with flagship locations in London and Riyadh.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
