From time to time I find books that are made in limited editions but that I just have to purchase. Today I will look at three of my recent purchases, all very different as you will see. The world of books has changed a huge amount and, as photography has become far more of an art form, so has the publishing of photographs. It used to be that people collected prints but the price of a single print these days is making that an expensive business for many collectors. Photographers wanting to get their work seen therefore are seeking other options and self-publishing books are sometime the way forward with many online options.

Sometimes however publishers have realised that they can make books and sell them, signed and numbered as a limited edition and still make money as well as give collectors great work, well printed. Of course books can contain any number of works by a photographer, the only limit being the eventual costs of the book. But for collectors it is a good way to build a collection which is still fairly exclusive and may even have some value in the longer term. Even non- limited edition books with small print runs can acquire value over a period if the photographer starts to gain a reputation. In the past I have mentioned Cig Harvey's early works which can now fetch hundreds of pounds on the internet due to her gradual rise to prominence and the limited numbers printed at the time of their release.

The first book to mention in my own recent purchases is by publisher Jane and Jeremy who have a range of beautiful books. "The Autumns of Spring" by Jordan Sullivan is an edition of 100, hand numbered (I have number 11) with an original photograph, signed on the rear, on the back page of the book as seen below. In addition a bookmark contains a QR Code that leads to an album by Jordan, "The Garden of Sorrowful Suns", part of a more extensive work that complements this strange journey through Monet's garden at Giverney. As with all books by this publisher the work is well bound and beautifully produced and gives a sense of worth even before you open it.

The second book I bought at the Photographers Gallery in London when I visited recently. I had gone specifically to see some prints by Paul Cupido, a Dutch photographer whom I follow on Instagram, that I knew were in the Print Space there. Japanese influenced they are among the most considered and beautiful prints I have seen for a long time. Thought through papers and inks with brilliant definitions and, of course, far too expensive for me to buy. Luckily his book 4a.m. was on sale, a signed and numbered limited edition of 500 worldwide. So I made do with that (163 of 500 in this case).  Designed by Akiko Wakabayashi and printed on a 198gsm Takeo Biotope paper that is, by turns, Cotton White, Marine Blue and Moss Green it is as lovely as it sounds and the photographs are themselves altered through the process of printing on the different coloured papers. I notice that they are sold out now so glad I got mine when I could. I tried earlier in the year to try and buy his book Mu - but too late....

The third book is even more unusual in a way. It is a work by Tamsin Green called "This is How The Earth Must See Itself". The entire 58 copies are hand made by Tamsin herself under Manual Editions. They are made with attention to detail and design which includes the environmentally friendly printing and materials that go into the book. Tamsin is also an advocate of slow travel to reduce her carbon footprint when  going on a project. I have number 17 of 58 in this edition and I do know that of earlier copies one is in the British Library and another in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Tamsin has won awards for her work and editions and that is hardly surprising. The book even arrived beautifully wrapped in re-used and re-cycled paper. It had a lovely note with it from Tamsin thanking me for buying it and I was reluctant to unpack it! The photographs and hand drawings in the book along with neatly folded pages that can be turned outwards to double the size of the illustration, carefully place inserts of different sizes, different papers and six handstitched sections all placed in an explanatory black card cover which is, itself then wrapped and sealed in an orange card "box" make this a unique and wonderful object to have. The text is also well written and explains the contents of the book clearly and with a passion and studiousness that does the photographs proud. You can find out more about that by following the links in this paragraph. You can also hire the book a week at a time if you just want to have time to explore it without actually owning it.

For me therefore there is a reason for collecting books like this and it is partly their value as photography books, partly their rarity and the fact that they are usually very well made and sometimes unique but also because I see it as a great way to support artists and publishers in a way that I can't through buying prints (and I have more room on my bookshelves than my walls now too...)