Steidl is founded by Gerhard Steidl in 1967, when he was just 17 years old.
The publisher started out printing posters for art exhibitions. In 1972, the first Steidl book, “Befragung zur documenta” (“Questioning documenta”) was published. From 1974, Steidl added political non-fiction to his program. In the early 1980s, he expanded into literature and selected art and photography books, and in 1989, he published his first paperback editions.
In 1996, Steidl finally decided to follow his passion for photography and to start his own internationally oriented photo book program. Today, Steidl Publishers hold the world rights for the books of some of the most renowned photographers and artists across the globe.
Steidl is one of the few remaining publishing houses to be independently operated by its founding owner, and to control every step of the manufacturing process ― the editing, design, typography, scanning, marketing, distribution, public relations and printing. There are only 35 employees working at Steidl’s head office in Göttingen.
What began as a backyard enterprise has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated and distinguished printing and publishing companies. The unique quality of his photography book production has brought Steidl to the attention of acclaimed photographers, artists and designers and he works for many renowned museums and galleries.
Whether fashion, art or literature, Steidl sees himself as a servant, as the artist’s and author’s ally, helping him or her “to do magic”, to realize their creative dreams, and to get them out to the readers.