thumb|Advertising for part-works by [[James Stratford (publisher)|James Stratford of London, 1810]]

A partwork is a written publication released as a series of planned magazine-like issues over a period of time. Issues are typically released on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, and often a completed set is designed to form a reference work on a particular topic.

Publication

thumb|right|Models of an [[Opel Admiral and a 1958–59 Opel Kapitän cars in 1:43 scale by Altaya; issued as part of The Opal Collection partwork published by Eaglemoss]]

Partwork series run for a determined length and have a finite life. Generally, partworks cover specific areas of interest, such as sports, hobbies, or children's interest and stories such as PC Ace and the successful The Ancestral Trail series by Marshall Cavendish Ltd. They are generally sold at newsagents and are mostly supported by massive television advertising campaigns for the launch. In the United Kingdom, partworks were often launched by heavy television advertising each January.

Partworks often include cover-mounted items with each issue that build into a complete set over time. At the time, printing a book was a lengthy process, copies of each section of the book being printed in turn until the work was complete; the sections would then be collated and the print-run of books could then be sold. The alternative of selling individual sections as soon as they were printed would enable the printer could gain a steady income while the book was being produced, and potentially increase sales by selling to people who could not afford the upfront cost of a copy of the complete book.

In the 19th century, many of Charles Dickens' novels were initially published as partworks. For example, The Pickwick Papers was first published in 19 parts, between 1836 and 1837. Likewise The Old Curiosity Shop was first published in 88 weekly parts between April 1840 and November 1841.

In the mid-20th century, partwork serialized encyclopedias were issued. Publishers soon branched out to other topics, including cookery books and series on gardening and car maintenance.

Notable partwork publishers

  • Amalgamated Press (no longer trading)
  • De Agostini, who have approximately 50% of the worldwide market (no longer trading)
  • Eaglemoss Publications
  • G E Fabbri
  • Hachette
  • International Masters Publishers
  • IPC Magazines (no longer trading)
  • Marshall Cavendish
  • Midsummer Books (including Bright Star Publications)
  • MODIMIO
  • Orbis Publishing
  • Purnell and Sons (no longer trading)
  • RBA Coleccionables

See also

  • Book series
  • Feuilleton
  • Periodical literature
  • Part-publication
  • Part
  • Serial (literature)
  • Web serial

References

  • Partworks - list of partworks publishers and their major partworks series
  • Cryptogem Partworks (previously known as partworks.co.uk) - archived website of British partworks dealer with titles of partworks issues
  • Partworkscollectables - site listing printed partworks and associated realia (e.g. model cars)