Assouline, the publisher who redefined the luxury book

Based in New York, Martine and Prosper Assouline are celebrating thirty years of success in the world of fine book publishing. A success made possible by their shared passions: beauty and books.

A departure from Colombe d’Or

It all began in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in the charming Hôtel de la Colombe d’Or, where the greatest painters and poets have stayed. From their stay, the Assouline couple brought back a collection of photos they were so nostalgic about that they decided to turn them into a book. This first self-published work on the Colombe d’Or marked the beginning of what was to become one of the most iconic publishing houses.

Since then, Éditions Assouline has published over 3,000 books, all imbued with a desire to surprise and amaze. Their catalog covers a wide range of subjects in different collections. Ultimate, Legends, The Classics, Icons. These include Frida Kahlo, Ferrari, Jay-Z and Maria Callas. Text is as important as images, with prestigious contributors such as Frédéric Beigbeder and Simon Liberati.

Assouline in New York, the accent remains French

The company has been based in New York for the past ten years, with around 100 employees. Although most of their books are published in English, the Paris headquarters still holds a special place. It employs around fifteen people. This internationalization has enabled Éditions Assouline to reach an ever-wider audience.

Alexandre Assouline, the couple’s son, who joined the company after some experience, is in charge of the business side. After working in consulting firms, he joined the family business to ensure its development. He explains: “Prosper, my father, has a very good vision of what he wants. I’m here to seize it, put it into practice and work on developing what constitutes a luxury brand.

Luxury at your fingertips

Alexandre grew up surrounded by books, which helped him develop a deep love for these objects. He says: “To me, a book is something you can’t help but love. Leafing through them for the beauty of the object, reading to learn… My parents have always had an absolute love of books.”

In particular, he remembers a striking exchange with Valentino, during the creation of a book dedicated to the couturier, in Capri. This human bond remains essential to the Assouline way of working.

The Assoulines don’t just produce beautiful books, they’ve turned them into veritable luxury items. Alexandre explains: “We open several boutiques a year, six this year, including two with pop-ups.” The company has also embarked on the design of bespoke bookcases and the development of specific scents.

One of the most daring initiatives is to open bars and restaurants in their stores, like the Swans Bar in London.

In a volatile digital world, the Assoulines have elevated books to the status of art, luxury object and collector’s item. Desirable. Our thanks to them.

Find out more about Paris culture on Paris Select Book.