AN INVESTMENT IN WORDS

Words by Rachel Zammit Cutajar

Edwards Lowell had already tested the waters in the luxury book market with their Portomaso Boutique - a two-storey, multi-functional shopping experience that includes an art gallery, champagne bar and high-end library, whilst also displaying the finest watches and jewellery on the market. Today, they've taken that investment a step further with the opening of their new shop, the Edwards Lowell Book Store, on Zachary Street in Valletta.

According to a report by Grand View Research Inc., the global book market is expected to expand by 1.9% to $164.22bn by 2030. However, despite the increase in digital technologies that are changing the way we digest information, physical libraries and hardcover books have remained in high demand, even as the world of digital books continues to grow.

For most of us, books are a source of pleasure, telling great stories through words or images. Hunting down a first edition or signed copy of your favourite novel creates a sense of pride. With so many stories of people who paid just a few euros for a book at a flea market that went on to sell for tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of euros, it's understandable how a collector may want to turn their passion into an investment.

For most collectors, books represent a stable, long-term investment. It's a rarefied pursuit, one that can be financially rewarding if you have the necessary expertise, diligence, and patience. What makes a book a good investment? Scarcity and uniqueness are key. First editions with low print runs, signatures, or inscriptions by authors increase the value of a book. A first edition of David Copperfield might fetch around €1,700, but a copy signed by Charles Dickens could sell for over €100,000. Future trends, which are more difficult to predict, will also affect the future value of a book. The Edwards Lowell Book Store is the latest addition to their growing initiatives. Not only are they selling high-end coffee table books, but they are also assisting with the curation of libraries for hotels, residences, private offices and more. With 97 years at the forefront of the luxury watch and fine jewellery business in Malta, representing brands such as Rolex, Patek-Philippe and Cartier, Edwards Lowell have experience in quality, style, and attention to detail. This gives them a unique outlook when curating both personal and corporate libraries for their clients, addressing individual needs, whether those be investment or decorative.

The idea behind curating a personalised library is to create the most beautiful and sophisticated space that will enable people to unplug and enjoy the moment, and this is why every project is one-of-akind. The unique design seeks to include a variety of genres while adding decorations to the library space, such as rare statues and sculptures — objects that help take guests on a visual journey and add conceptual depth to the library.

Also available from the Elcol website, the Edwards Lowell Book Store offers a vast selection of perfectly bound, attractively presented books on art, fashion, photography, travel and lifestyle, books of the highest quality, with distinctive graphic identity and editorial savoir-faire, including those from high quality publishers, Assouline and Taschen. These books are not simply words and pictures, but experiences which unfold as you turn the pages.

The Assouline publishing house is the gold standard for luxury fashion and lifestyle books, chronicling the history of everything from the house of Chanel to Coca-Cola to the Carlyle Hotel, with Alex Assouline introducing a service to design private libraries to the company.

Assouline produces more than a 100 titles a year by insider authors on the topics of travel (Gstaad Glam was written by restaurateur Geoffrey Moore, actor Roger Moore’s son); cities and countries (Dubai Wonder); art, design, and photography (Art Deco Style) Impossible Collections of yachts, watches and more. Oversize volumes with hand-tipped illustrations form part of a series of limited editions, otherwise known as the “Ultimate Collection.”

The Assouline Collection lies side by side with another world-famous publisher – Taschen. Established in the late 90s, they became famous for their SUMO range – wonderfully large coffee table books which began with the publication of Helmut Newton’s SUMO in 1999. This was to set new parameters in the printing industry. Taschen has become synonymous with accessible, eclectic publishing. From affordable Basic Art series to highly collectible limited editions, Taschen specialises in illustrated publications on a range of themes including art, architecture, design, film, photography, pop culture, and lifestyle.

A bespoke library is an expression of personality, through the selection of reading material as well as the design of its space. Creating one need not create a detrimental carbon footprint. In a world that's increasingly environmentally aware, both Taschen and Assouline have developed an environmentally conscious approach, planting a tree for every sale made.

A private library is more than just a way to organise your books; it’s an expression of character and a symbol of style. Adding what can be nothing less than art pieces by both Assouline and Taschen – hand-bound books using traditional techniques, with colour plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper - will lift your spaces from simple bookshelves to a library that expresses who you really are. The books at Edwards Lowell Book Store are ones you can judge by their cover!

www.elcol.com