Mapin Publishing
Mapin Publishing is an Indian illustrated book publisher specializing in high-quality titles on Indian art, culture, architecture, and heritage, serving museums, academic institutions, art collectors, and global readers via direct sales and co-publishing partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersAhmedabad, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Mapin Publishing does
Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd is an Indian illustrated book publisher founded in 1985 (with one source citing 1984) by danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and Bipin Shah, headquartered in Ahmedabad. The company specializes in high-quality, lavishly illustrated books documenting Indian visual arts, architecture, archaeology, crafts, design, photography, performing arts, and museum collections, producing nearly 400 titles over 42 years. It also launched the MapinLit imprint in 2020 for English-language fiction, poetry, biographies, and non-fiction, extending beyond pure illustrated art publishing. Core production capabilities reside in in-house editorial, design, and production teams that manage complete book projects from concept to finished product.
The business operates through four revenue streams: (1) one-time retail sales of published titles via a direct e-commerce storefront (mapinpub.com with multi-currency support) and global distributors including ACC Art Books in North America and CBS Combined Book Services in the UK; (2) book packaging and custom publishing services for publishers, museums, and institutions, with nearly 375 custom titles completed; (3) co-publishing arrangements with international art publishers and museums such as V&A London, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and The Alkazi Collection of Photography; and (4) rights licensing to other markets. Pricing ranges from ₹195 for children's books to ₹10,000 for boxed/premium editions.
Mapin's go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-oriented, with 50 sales representatives globally and active participation in Frankfurt, London, and New York book fairs. Customer segments include museums and galleries, academic and research institutions, art collectors, corporate/institutional buyers, and children/families. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, funding rounds, or acquisitions, and maintains independent operation under founder-aligned control.
Mapin Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mapin Publishing
- Legal name
- Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd
- Website
- https://mapinpub.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mapin Publishing is an Indian illustrated book publisher specializing in high-quality titles on Indian art, culture, architecture, and heritage, serving museums, academic institutions, art collectors, and global readers via direct sales and co-publishing partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mapin Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Illustrated Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)
Keywords
Where Mapin Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ahmedabad
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mapin Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Mapin generates revenue through one-time sales of illustrated books across art, architecture, archaeology, crafts, photography, and culture. Books are sold directly to consumers via their e-commerce store and through distribution partnerships globally.
- Packaging and Custom Publishing Services: Mapin offers book packaging and custom publishing services to publishers, agencies, museums, and institutions interested in developing books on Indian art and visual arts subjects, providing complete project management from concept to finished book.
- Co-Publishing Services: Mapin collaborates with international art book publishers and museums to co-produce illustrated books on India, sharing production expertise and ensuring books are distributed in India and South Asia.
- Rights Licensing: Mapin licenses rights for their published titles to other markets and publishers, with separate lists for limited rights availability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Hardcover art books (premium titles) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Boxed edition / PLC hardcover |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard hardcover and softcover titles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children's books |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk orders and direct purchases |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mapin Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mapin Publishing is an Indian book publisher specializing in high-quality illustrated books on Indian visual arts, culture, architecture, archaeology, crafts, design, photography, and heritage. The company produces, prints, and distributes nearly 400 titles across art monographs, museum exhibition catalogues, academic reference books, children's books, and poetry, and offers packaging, custom publishing, and co-publishing services to museums, galleries, publishers, and cultural institutions.
Product overview
Mapin Publishing is an Indian book publisher specializing in quality illustrated books on visual arts, culture, architecture, archaeology, crafts, design, photography, and literature of India. Founded in 1984, the company publishes books across multiple imprints including MapinLit for English-language fiction, poetry, biographies, and non-fiction. Their portfolio spans art monographs, exhibition catalogues, reference books, children's books, and heritage publications. The company offers publishing services including custom packaging, co-publishing with international publishers and museums, manuscript submission, and rights licensing. Key publications include the acclaimed Raja Ravi Varma biography, Ellora cave temples documentation, Silver and Gold on Indian jewellery, Portrait of An Artist photography book, and the Tree & Serpent Buddhist art study.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Raja Ravi Varma Lavishly produced biography of painter Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), documenting his adaptation of academic realism to Indian mythology and Western painting techniques. Aimed at art historians, collectors, and general readers interested in Indian art.
- Handmade in India Encyclopedic source book mapping 516 types of specific regional crafts of India with historical, social, and cultural influences on design and craft processes. The official directory of all crafts in India, published with the Department of Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
- Ellora First systematic overview of the Ellora cave temples (UNESCO World Heritage Site), excavated between 600 CE and 1000 CE, covering Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples. Aimed at art historians, archaeologists, and heritage enthusiasts.
- Silver and Gold: Visions of Arcadia Publication presenting the Amrapali collection of Indian pastoral silver jewellery, representing diverse communities, religions, and cultural traditions. Published in association with The Amrapali Museum, Jaipur.
- Bapji: The King Who Would be Man Chronicle of Maharaja Gajsingh II of Marwar-Jodhpur, exploring his personal journey and the broader history of the Rathore dynasty.
- The Planetary King Seminal inquiry into Humayun's personality and cultural achievements, examining his contributions to architecture, science, literature, and Mughal ruling ideology. Published in partnership with Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
- Chola Maati: Pardhan Gond Rituals from Birth to Death Exploration of Pardhan Gond community rituals through evocative paintings, photographs, and narrative, including traditional songs accessible via QR codes.
- Portrait of An Artist Book featuring 67+ portraits of Indian artists photographed in their studios by Rohit Chawla, with text by Kishore Singh. Published by Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and Mapin Publishing.
- Kalamkari Temple Hangings Catalog of 19th-century South Indian temple hangings from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, with translations of Telugu and Tamil inscriptions. Published in association with V&A Publishing.
- Gardens Within A Garden: Sunder Nursery Park, New Delhi Documentation of Sunder Nursery's restoration and transformation between Humayun's Tomb and Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, published in partnership with Government Sunder Nursery Management Trust and Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
- Photographing Civil Disobedience: Bombay 1930-31 Visual history of the Civil Disobedience Movement in Bombay featuring 245 documentary photographs from the Alkazi Collection of Photography.
- Packaging and Custom Publishing Services Book packaging and custom publishing services offered to publishers, agencies, museums, and institutions interested in developing books on Indian art and visual arts subjects, providing complete project management from concept to finished book.
- Co-Publishing Services Mapin collaborates with international art book publishers and museums to co-produce illustrated books on India, sharing production expertise and ensuring books are distributed in India and South Asia.
- Rights Licensing Mapin licenses rights for their published titles to other markets and publishers, with separate lists for limited rights availability.
Quantifiable outcome
- 42 years of publishing, nearly 400 titles produced
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mapin Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Mapin Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Mapin Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New DelhicoreMapin co-published 'Portrait of an Artist' with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The museum also provided exhibition space for related exhibitions. This partnership combines Mapin's publishing expertise with the museum's collection and institutional reach.
- Aga Khan Trust for CulturecoreCo-published 'The Planetary King' and 'Gardens Within A Garden' with Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The trust also worked with Mapin on publications related to the Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site and the Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative.
- The Amrapali Museum, Jaipurmajor'Silver and Gold: Visions of Arcadia' was published in association with The Amrapali Museum, Jaipur, documenting one of the world's largest collections of pastoral silver jewellery.
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A Publishing), Londonmajor'Kalamkari Temple Hangings' was published by Mapin in association with V&A Publishing, London, documenting the V&A's important collection of 19th-century South Indian temple hangings.
- The Alkazi Collection of Photography, New DelhicorePublished 'Vijayanagara: Splendour in Ruins' and 'Photographing Civil Disobedience: Bombay 1930-31' in association with The Alkazi Collection of Photography. These publications draw on the collection's extensive holdings of historical photography.
- Government Sunder Nursery Management Trustmajor'Gardens Within A Garden: Sunder Nursery Park, New Delhi' was published in partnership with Government Sunder Nursery Management Trust, documenting the restoration and transformation of the heritage site.
- Department of Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of Indiamajor'Handmade in India' was published with the Department of Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and is the official directory of all crafts in India.
- ACC Art BookscoreACC Art Books handles North American distribution for Mapin Publishing, providing sales, fulfillment, and customer service for US customers.
- CBS Combined Book ServicescoreCBS Combined Book Services handles UK distribution for Mapin Publishing, managing the sales and fulfillment of Mapin titles in the UK market.
- Grinnell College Museum of Art, USAmajorPublished 'Paper Trails: Modern Indian Works on Paper from the Gaur Collection' in association with Grinnell College Museum of Art, USA. The museum also hosted the associated exhibition and is a sales agent (Signature Book Representation).
- UNESCOmajor'Vijayanagara: Splendour in Ruins' was published with association of UNESCO, drawing on the Alkazi Collection of Photography for documentation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbaimajor'Photographing Civil Disobedience' exhibition 'Disobedient Subjects: Bombay, 1930-1931' was held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai from Oct 2025 to Apr 2026, co-promoting the book publication.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mapin Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thames & Hudson: London-based illustrated book publisher with a global art, architecture, and culture catalogue. A direct competitor in the illustrated art book category and a natural co-publishing counterpart for Mapin's international museum projects.
- Yale University Press: Major scholarly and illustrated book publisher with deep art history catalogue. Comparable on academic rigour and museum-channel distribution, and a potential competing co-publishing partner for Indian art and architecture projects.
- Rizzoli International Publications: US-based illustrated book publisher with strong fashion, art, and architecture catalogues. Overlaps with Mapin in luxury illustrated art titles and museum exhibition catalogues.
- Phaidon Press: Global illustrated art and design book publisher with deep museum and academic distribution. Comparable in production values and customer overlap with Mapin's illustrated visual arts catalogue.
- Taschen: Global illustrated art and culture publisher known for high-production museum and art titles. Competes with Mapin in premium illustrated books on visual culture and heritage, and could substitute as a Western partner for Indian museum co-publications.
Direct peers
- ACC Art Books: US/UK-based illustrated art book publisher and distributor. Directly comparable as a global illustrated art-book specialist and also serves as Mapin's North American distribution partner, sharing the same buyer base of museums, libraries, and collectors.
- V&A Publishing: Publishing arm of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Mapin already publishes in association with V&A Publishing, and V&A Publishing is a direct peer in producing illustrated exhibition and collection catalogues.
- Tara Books: Chennai-based independent illustrated book publisher focused on Indian art, craft, and visual storytelling. Closely comparable in category, geography, and audience overlap, and a natural Indian indie peer.
- Prestel Publishing: Munich/London/New York illustrated art book publisher with strong ties to museums and exhibitions. Closely comparable to Mapin in producing museum-quality illustrated catalogues on art, architecture, and culture.
Regional players
- Niyogi Books: New Delhi-based independent publisher with strong art, architecture, photography, and culture titles. Comparable in Indian illustrated and cultural publishing scope, though primarily distributed within India.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mapin Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceMapin Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mapin Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Mapin Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mapin Publishing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mapin Publishing
What does Mapin Publishing do?
Mapin Publishing is an Indian book publisher specializing in high-quality illustrated books on Indian visual arts, culture, architecture, archaeology, crafts, design, photography, and heritage. The company produces, prints, and distributes nearly 400 titles across art monographs, museum exhibition catalogues, academic reference books, children's books, and poetry, and offers packaging, custom publishing, and co-publishing services to museums, galleries, publishers, and cultural institutions.
Is Mapin Publishing a public or private company?
Mapin Publishing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mapin Publishing founded?
Mapin Publishing was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mapin Publishing based?
Mapin Publishing is headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, in the Asia region.
How does Mapin Publishing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are packaging and Custom Publishing Services, co-Publishing Services and rights Licensing.
Who are Mapin Publishing's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thames & Hudson, Yale University Press, Rizzoli International Publications, Phaidon Press and Taschen. Direct peers are ACC Art Books, V&A Publishing, Tara Books and Prestel Publishing. Niyogi Books is listed as a regional player.
Does Mapin Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mapin Publishing.
What industry is Mapin Publishing in?
Mapin Publishing's product category is Illustrated Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAF, Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAAAA, General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.