Schiffer Publishing

Schiffer Publishing is an independent, family-owned American book publisher founded in 1974 and headquartered in Atglen, Pennsylvania. The company publishes primarily nonfiction, with a catalogue built around visually led and specialist subjects rather than a narrow trade category. Its areas include antiques and collectibles, architecture and interior design, arts and crafts, lifestyle, regional culture, children's books, military history, militaria, tarot and oracle systems, and mind, body, and spirit. The publisher's books commonly combine substantial photography or illustration with practical information, historical documentation, collecting guidance, or craft instruction. The Schiffer name operates alongside a group of imprints and publishing identities that broaden the company's reach. These include Schiffer, Schiffer Craft, Schiffer Military History, Schiffer Kids, REDFeather MBS, Cornell Maritime Press, Tidewater Publishers, Thrums Books, and Geared Up Publications. The imprint structure allows the company to address different reader communities, from craft practitioners and collectors to military-history enthusiasts, children, maritime readers, and audiences interested in Indigenous and international craft traditions. A significant part of Schiffer's identity has been its military-history list. The company has published extensively on German military history, uniforms, equipment, personalities, aviation, vehicles, and the Second World War. This emphasis has made Schiffer a prominent specialist publisher in the North American market for military books and militaria-related reference works. It has also attracted criticism from historians Ronald Smelser and Edward J. Davies, who characterized Schiffer in their study of Eastern Front representations as a major outlet for war-romancing literature. Their criticism focused on what they viewed as insufficiently critical or ahistorical portrayals of the German war effort during the Soviet-German War. This scholarly assessment is part of the publisher's reception history, but it does not by itself establish misconduct or a legal scandal. Schiffer expanded its publishing portfolio through acquisitions. In 2009 it acquired Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers, adding established maritime and regional publishing programmes. In October 2020, the company announced the purchase of Thrums Books, an imprint known for documenting Indigenous craft traditions and artisan communities around the world. Thrums-related subjects have included craft traditions in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Morocco, Afghanistan, China, and other regions. The acquisition reinforced Schiffer's interest in material culture, traditional making, and internationally situated visual storytelling. Today, Schiffer Publishing remains an independent specialist publisher whose competitive position rests on subject-matter breadth, illustrated production, niche expertise, and a comparatively long catalogue life. Its books serve both general readers and focused communities of collectors, designers, craftspeople, historians, hobbyists, and regional-interest readers. Publicly available reference material does not identify a parent corporation, public listing, ticker symbol, current executives, or the individual founder.

Schiffer Publishing was established in 1974 in the United States and developed as a family-owned publisher of nonfiction. Rather than concentrating on one conventional trade category, it built a broad specialist list in which visual presentation, subject expertise, and practical reference value were central. Its areas of publication came to include antiques, collectibles, decorative arts, architecture, interior design, arts and crafts, lifestyle, regional subjects, children's books, military history, militaria, tarot and oracle systems, and mind, body, and spirit. The company became particularly visible through its military-history programme. Schiffer published books on German military history and the Second World War, including subjects such as military equipment, uniforms, aviation, and the German war effort on the Eastern Front. This catalogue established the company as an important North American publisher for military-history enthusiasts and collectors. It also generated scholarly criticism. In The Myth of the Eastern Front, Ronald Smelser and Edward J. Davies described Schiffer as one of the leading publishers of war-romancing literature in North America. They argued that portions of the company's German-focused list presented an uncritical or ahistorical interpretation of the German war effort in the Soviet-German War. Their discussion forms part of the academic reception of Schiffer's military list and should be distinguished from a finding of legal wrongdoing. Schiffer broadened its corporate and editorial footprint through acquisitions. In 2009, it acquired Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers. These names added maritime history, nautical subjects, and regional publishing strengths to the company's existing specialist catalogue. In October 2020, Schiffer announced the purchase of Thrums Books. Thrums had developed a reputation for books documenting Indigenous craft traditions and the work of artisans in places including Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Morocco, Afghanistan, and China. Its addition extended Schiffer's coverage of traditional making, cultural heritage, and international material culture. The company's publishing structure includes several imprints and identities, among them Schiffer, Schiffer Craft, Schiffer Military History, Schiffer Kids, REDFeather MBS, Cornell Maritime Press, Tidewater Publishers, Thrums Books, and Geared Up Publications. Together, these imprints allow Schiffer to address specialist audiences while retaining a common emphasis on illustrated, durable, information-rich books. Public reference material confirms the company's Pennsylvania base and family-owned character, but does not identify a founder, current leadership roster, parent corporation, financial results, or public-market listing. On the available evidence, Schiffer remains an active independent publisher serving United States and international book markets.

• 2020

  Thrums Books purchased

  [1]Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Schiffer announced the purchase of Thrums Books in October, adding a publishing programme centered on Indigenous craft traditions and international artisan stories.

• 2009

  Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers acquired

  [1]Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition expanded Schiffer's catalogue into maritime history, nautical subjects, and related regional publishing.

• 1974

  Schiffer Publishing founded

  [1]Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Schiffer Publishing was established as a family-owned American nonfiction publisher.

An independent, family-owned specialist publisher focused on highly illustrated nonfiction, practical reference, material culture, collecting, craft, design, military history, and other enthusiast-led subjects.

• General illustrated nonfiction

  Schiffer

  The core Schiffer publishing identity covers a wide range of illustrated nonfiction, including antiques, collectibles, design, lifestyle, regional culture, and practical reference. Its books generally serve readers who want visual documentation combined with accessible specialist information.

• Arts, crafts, and making

  Schiffer Craft

  Schiffer Craft publishes books about hands-on making, creative techniques, and craft practice. The imprint fits the company's broader emphasis on visually explained processes, material knowledge, and books that can function as both instruction and inspiration.

• Military history and militaria

  Schiffer Military History

  This specialist line covers military history, militaria, uniforms, equipment, aviation, and related subjects, with a particularly strong historical focus on Germany and the Second World War. It has made Schiffer a recognized North American source for enthusiast and collector-oriented military books.

• Children's books

  Schiffer Kids

  Schiffer Kids represents the company's children's publishing activity. Public reference material identifies the imprint but does not provide a complete catalogue description or a confirmed launch date.

• Mind, body, spirit, tarot, and oracle

  REDFeather MBS

  REDFeather MBS is an imprint associated with mind, body, and spirit subjects, including tarot and oracle-related books. The available reference material does not specify its full editorial range or founding date.

• Maritime and regional publishing · 2009

  Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers

  These acquired publishing identities contribute maritime, nautical, and regional titles to the Schiffer group. Their acquisition in 2009 broadened the company beyond its existing design, collecting, and military-history strengths.

• Indigenous craft and cultural heritage · 2020

  Thrums Books

  Thrums Books focuses on stories of Indigenous craft traditions and artisans from around the world. Its subjects have included communities and makers in Latin America, North Africa, Central Asia, and China, adding an international cultural-heritage dimension to Schiffer's illustrated nonfiction portfolio.

• 2020

  Purchase Thrums BooksM&A

  Background

  Thrums Books specialized in documenting Indigenous craft traditions and artisan communities through illustrated books.

  Action taken

  In October 2020, Schiffer announced that it had purchased Thrums Books.

  Aftermath

  The purchase extended Schiffer's portfolio into international craft traditions, cultural heritage, and artisan storytelling.

  Source

• 2009

  Acquire Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater PublishersM&A

  Background

  Schiffer sought to expand its specialist catalogue and publishing identities beyond its established nonfiction categories.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers, adding maritime and regional titles to its group.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened Schiffer's coverage into maritime history and related nautical subjects.

  Source

• 2020

  Schiffer Publishing announced the purchase of Thrums Books[1]Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  In October 2020, Schiffer announced that it had purchased Thrums Books, a publishing identity focused on Indigenous craft traditions and artisan stories from multiple regions around the world.

• 2009

  Schiffer Publishing acquired Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers[1]Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Schiffer expanded its specialist publishing portfolio by acquiring Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers, bringing maritime and regional titles into its publishing group.

• 2006

  Historians criticized Schiffer's treatment of Eastern Front war literature[1]Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  In The Myth of the Eastern Front, historians Ronald Smelser and Edward J. Davies identified Schiffer as a major North American outlet for war-romancing literature and criticized aspects of its German-focused Second World War publishing.

1. 1Schiffer Publishingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Myth of the Eastern Front: The Nazi-Soviet War in American Popular Culturecambridge.org
3. 3Schiffer Publishing official websiteschifferbooks.com