Tuttle Publishing

Tuttle Publishing
Parent company Periplus Publishing Group
Founded 1948
Founder Charles E. Tuttle
Successor Eric Oey
Country of origin United States of America
Headquarters location North Clarendon, Vermont
Key people Michael Sargent (Manager)
Publication types Books
Revenue USD $2.5–$5 million (estimated, 2010)
Number of employees 18 (estimated, 2013)
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]

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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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. 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. Tuttle

The company’s founder, Charles Egbert Tuttle, Jr., was a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University.[4] He enlisted in the U.S. 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—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

Tuttle's current publisher and CEO is Singapore resident Eric Oey.[11] Oey is a nephew of Charles E. Tuttle.[12]

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.[13][14] The company has also published books on Tagalog.[15] 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[16] and, in 2009, its first introduction to Modern Standard Hindi.[17]

In 2010, out of the company's top 20 best-selling books, 11 were martial arts titles.[18] Tuttle Publishing had estimated annual sales of $2.5–$5 million U.S., and a staff of around 40 people.[8] It had offices in North Clarendon (in Vermont, USA), Singapore, Tokyo, and Jakarta.[1] Leading officers are in the U.S. are Michael Sargent (General Manager), David Loseby (Finance Executive), and Christopher Johns (Sales & Marketing Director).[8]

In September, 2012, Tuttle announced that it would move its fulfillment operation to Simon & Schuster, resulting in the layoff of 16 employees in its Vermont operation.[19] By late 2013, subsequent departures left a staff of 18.

See also

Notes

a. ^ This is not the same person as the British author by the same name.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tutttle Publishing: About us Retrieved on April 17, 2010.
  2. ↑ 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)
  3. ↑ The London Book Fair: Tuttle Publishing (2010). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ingleton, N. (1993): Obituary: Charles E. Tuttle The Independent (July 7, 1993). Retrieved on April 17, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Saxon, W. (1993): Obituary: Charles Tuttle, 78, a dealer in books on U.S.-Asian ties New York Times (June 11, 1993). Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
  6. ↑ Cohen, R. (1991): Small House to buy Atlantic Monthly Press New York Times (June 24, 1991). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. 1 2 3 Manta: Tuttle Publishing (Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (2010). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
  9. 1 2 Tuttle Publishing (2008): General trade catalog.
  10. ↑ Edwards, B. (2006): Used book shop closes its doors Rutland Herald (July 20, 2006). Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
  11. ↑ Tuttle's tales of tantalizing literary trials and triumphs China Daily (July 23, 2010)
  12. ↑ Old Publishing Family Develops New Markets in Asia "Publishers Weekly" (May 23, 1997)
  13. ↑ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Literature & translation – Charles E. Tuttle Publishing (Japan) (October 9, 2002). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
  14. ↑ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Culture – Charles E. Tuttle Publishing (Japan) (2007). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
  15. ↑ Tuttle Publishing: Unparalleled marketplace for Filipino children’s books & educational Tagalog language materials East Villagers (February 25, 2010). Retrieved on April 20, 2010.
  16. ↑ Tuttle Publishing (2004): Fall 2004 catalog.
  17. ↑ Tuttle Publishing (2010): Fall 2010 catalog.
  18. ↑ Tuttle Publishing: Top 20 bestsellers Retrieved on April 19, 2010.
  19. ↑ Tuttle Laying Off 16; Looks to Future with S&S Publisher's Weekly (September 24, 2012)
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