F&W Media International
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| Parent company | F+W Media (since 2000) |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1 April 1960 |
| Founder | David St John Thomas and Charles Hadfield |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Headquarters location | Exeter, Devon |
| Publication types | Book, E-book, E-learning |
| Imprints | David & Charles |
| Official website | www.fwmedia.co.uk |
F&W Media International Limited, formerly known as David & Charles Publishers (also styled as David and Charles), is a publisher of illustrated non-fiction books, eBooks, digital products, craft patterns and online education courses. It is the international arm of F+W Media Inc. and owner of the David & Charles imprint, which specialises in craft and lifestyle publishing, including sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, papercraft, vintage, cake decorating and mixed crafts. The company also owns and runs the Stitch Craft Create ecommerce store (formerly the RU Craft store) and publishing brand in the UK.
F&W Media International Limited acts as the worldwide (excluding North America) distributor for all F+W Media books and content outside of North America, and also distributes Interweave Press publications in the UK, Worldwide (excluding North America), and as foreign language editions. In addition, the company distributes Dover Publications and Reader's Digest books into the UK Trade and is also used by F+W Media as a UK and Europe distribution platform for the overseas acquired companies Krause Publications and Adams Media.
The company was founded – in the market town of Newton Abbot, in Devon, England, on 1 April 1960 by David St John Thomas and Charles Hadfield. It first made its name publishing titles on Britain's canals and railways. In Newton Abbot, the company was based in the town's old railway station building and as the business expanded, the company took over the locomotive shed for use as a warehouse.
During the early years the company became particularly renowned for its classic books on the railways and canals of the United Kingdom. The railway linkage led to the company publishing a full page monthly advert "David & Charles News" on the back cover of the Railway Magazine. This started with a half page on the November 1966 back cover with the full page "News" starting in January 1967.
In 1971, the company bought Readers' Union, a group of book clubs catering to enthusiasts of needlecraft, handicrafts, gardening, equestrian pursuits and photography. The company's publishing programme began to reflect these subject areas, moving away from the traditional transport titles for which it had become known.
In the period of about 1965-1970 David & Charles had an extensive list of their books published with the American imprint Augustus M. Kelley. These books were usually almost identical to the United Kingdom product but with changed dust jacket and publisher's information.
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