International Literary Properties expands its non-fiction portfolio with three acquisitions

International Literary Properties (ILP) has expanded its non-fiction portfolio by acquiring three new literary estates: that of American naturalist, ornithologist, illustrator, and educator Roger Tory Peterson; New Yorker financial journalist and author John Brooks; and German-American professor of art history H W Janson.

ILP acquired the publishing copyrights to the extensive catalogue of Peterson as well as acquiring the literary catalogue of Brooks and the copyrights of Janson.

It now holds exclusive publishing copyrights to Peterson’s published, unpublished and out-of-print books, including artwork, maps and photographs. The organisation says it “looks forward to working closely with the Peterson family to grow and invest in the legacy of Roger Tory Peterson and to elevate his work on the natural world, especially in a time of increasing social responsibility to preserve wilderness areas and biodiversity".

ILP has invested in all of Janson’s IP and copyrights, which include contributions to updated editions of Janson’s work from his wife Dora Jane Janson and son Anthony F Janson. ILP said it is “excited to revitalise and restore the lost historic works of Janson and share his teachings with a wider audience". Janson is best known for his History of Art Textbook (Pearson), a “significant contribution to the discipline of art history, specifically to the teaching of art history”. His other book still in print is Janson’s Basic History of Western Art (Pearson). First published in 1962, it has sold more than four million copies in 15 languages and is now in its eighth edition.

Brooks was was the author of 10 non-fiction books on business and finance, including Business Adventures (John Murray Learning), which Bill Gates called the “best book on business ever". He also wrote three novels and was well known for his work for authors’ rights. He was the president of the Authors Guild from 1975 to 1979, vice-president of PEN America from 1962 to 1966, vice-president of the Society of American Historians in 1984 and was a trustee of the New York Public Library from 1978 to 1994. ILP has acquired Brooks’ full literary portfolio and will put an initial focus on bringing out-of-print works back into print, as well as collecting Brooks’ other works in book form.

Scott Hoffman, c.e.o. of ILP, said: “We’re extremely pleased to add the Peterson, Janson and Brooks catalogues to ILP’s diverse portfolio of intellectual property. Peterson and Janson are iconic names in serious non-fiction. Brooks’ insightful writing style and keen observations about the business world have made his stories modern classics. We look forward to preserving these three important literary legacies and introducing their works to new generations of readers.”