PrestonSpeed Quality

Our mission is to publish works of historical fiction and non-fiction for the edification and enjoyment of the whole family, using only materials of the highest quality for printing and binding to ensure that our books will last through generations of use.

Back in 1996, when we began reprinting the Henty books, we were immediately faced with a decision about quality: Should we produce books made from low-quality materials and inexpensive printing methods, or choose the finest materials and printing methods, so that we could offer an heirloom product at the lowest possible price? The Golden Rule made our decision unavoidable!

Providing heirloom quality books requires us to spare no expense. Our Henty books are re typeset in a clean modern font with typographical specifications that enhance readability. The text is printed on acid-free, archival-quality paper known as "natural book text." Its easy-on-the-eye off-white color further insures ease of readability. Our text is printed by an offset printing process, in which the ink is actually imbedded in the paper, unlike the Laser docu-printing system, in which a copy machine type of plastic toner is burned on top of the paper. This "print on demand" technology has limited applications. It is primarily used in the production of "vanity books"-an industry term given to books that are self-published by authors who have been unable to get their works published by an established publishing house.

The print-on-demand technology cannot compare to our production methods. Slide any sharp-edged object across any Laser docu-printed page and you will find that the text begins to spread and smear. Try it on an image, and the results are even more dramatic. (Moreover, if the pages get wet for any reason, the ink will run, and the pages will stick together.) Try the same thing with our professionally printed books, and you will see the difference-and the value that we offer. Furthermore, our bindings are sewn, rather than glued, and the cloth binding material on our Heirloom Editions is the best available. The result is a long-lasting, trouble-free book-in short, a collector's item!

All reprints of Hentys and other long-out-of-print texts, while carefully re typeset, contain all the text just as it appears in the original: all of the "British-isms" and older spellings and syntax have been left intact. We did this because we recognize the great value there is in reading a Henty-or any other classic-in its original form. The thrill of Henty's masterful story-telling carries young readers into the "style" of Henty's times, and prepares them to read the more difficult classics.

Of course, the quality of the literature itself is of utmost importance when reviewing any material for publication. Any book considered must meet a high standard of quality. The values conveyed, the overall message, the accuracy of the information, and overall literary benefit are all evaluated. Basically, we want our customers to know that our books will live up to their high standards.

It is our great pleasure to provide you with quality books and authors. It is our sincere hope that our books will provide you with entertaining and informative reading as you build a library that can be handed down to future generations.