Ian Allan Publishing

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Ian Allan Publishing is a UK publisher established in 1942 which specialises in transport publications including a variety of magazines and books.

In 1942 Ian Allan published his first book, "ABC of Southern Locomotives". This proved to be a success, and from this the company was formed. The company has grown from a small producer of books for train enthusiasts and spotters to a large transport publisher. Each year it publishes books covering subjects such as military and civil aviation, naval and maritime, buses, trams, trolleybuses, steam railways both historical and preserved and modern traction.

Ian Allan shop in Cardiff.

[edit] Company Acquisitions

Ian Allan Publishing has acquired several companies and imprints.

Oxford Publishing Company was purchased in 1998 from Haynes Publishing and has become a prominent and well-regarded railway list; since 1998 OPC has undergone many changes, with investments being made in both new and backlist titles.

Midland Publishing was acquired in 1999. Now integrated into the Ian Allan Publishing list, the Midland imprint provides a range of specialist, highly illustrated titles, covering military aviation subjects from World War II right up to the present day. In civil aviation too, comprehensive works of reference are regularly published.

Classic Publications, a publisher of aviation titles, was added to the name in 2002, bringing another imprint widely considered important in the World War 2 aviation market.

[edit] Magazines

As well as publishing books, Ian Allan Publishing is well known for its range of enthusiast-based magazines. There are currently nine magazines in the portfolio:

Railways Illustrated, a monthly publication targeting enthusiasts.

Modern Railways

Buses magazine

Buses Focus is a spin-off from Buses magazine. Now a regular bi-monthly.

Bus and Coach Preservation was first published in 2001 under the Ian Allan banner following a merger of two existing titles.

Tramways & Urban Transit is the journal of the Light Rail Transit Association, and has been published by the company for many years.

Vintage Roadscene. This now bi-monthly journal covers the world of historic transport. Vintage Roadscene has been established for over 20 years and deals with the transport scene on the roads of history.

Aircraft Illustrated, an aviation magazine, was first published in 1968.

Combat Aircraft provides all enthusiasts with in-depth coverage of the men and the machines at the forefront of the missions undertaken in today’s combat zones.

Ian Allan also currently have four Ian Allan Bookshops.

Returning to books, Ian Allan Publishing's trade representation is provided by Amalgamated Book Services, not only for its own imprints, but also for a growing list of associated publishers. Midland Counties Publications, acquired by Ian Allan Publishing at the same time as Midland Publishing, was established in the 1970s with the objective of selling books at aviation events and by mail order to a growing number of enthusiasts who could not always find the publications they wanted to read on the shelves of their local High Street bookshop.

In addition to the above Ian Allan also owns the imprint Lewis Masonic. Lewis Masonic is known to English Freemasons as the producers of the ritual books used by UGLE lodges and chapters.