Sally Pemberton
signs author's copies of
"Portrait of Murdock Pemberton
The New Yorker's First Art Critic"
As a first-time author of a voluminous art history book, I spent an awful lot of time thinking about research, storytelling, licensing, photography, color correction, credits, an index, a dustjacket and marketing. I never thought about bookbinding.
I decided not to have my book printed in Europe or Asia. I needed to know that there was someone I could communicate with directly, and easily pick up the phone and call if necessary, to guide me through the printing process. I selected Capital Offset Inc. of Concord, New Hampshire who works with ACME Bookbinding.
To expedite the release of the book in time for the holiday season, I arranged with ACME to come to their facility in Boston and sign, pack, and mail out a large number of individual books destined for art critics, museums, and people involved with the book. From the moment I arrived at ACME I was made to feel welcome.

Owner Paul Parisi and Project Manager Ron Raye put a crack team of a quality control inspector, a packer, and their shipping manager at my disposal. I quickly realized that due to the weight and bulk of the books, I could never have managed this part of the process on my own as was my original plan.

I love the look and feel of a physical book. I was thrilled to see that my vision for this one had been realized due in part to ACME’s passion for the art and craft of bookmaking. The care that they exercised in the binding and handling of the book demonstrated the same level of attention and pride as everyone else involved from the designer to the editor. ACME advised that each book be individually shrink-wrapped and suggested the appropriate packaging for shipment. Such care was taken in the packing of the books that one might have thought we were shipping cartons of eggs!

Something I did not anticipate taking away from my experience at ACME was seeing 150 people employed making something in America. Everywhere I looked people were handling parts of books. Of course there was lots of machinery, but there were also a lot of people who had jobs at a company and took pride in its work.
I left Boston proud that my book was made in America.