In 15 years they had produced 34 books in this manner. When the manual labor, which had been a helpful anchor for Virginia ended, she concerned herself less and less with the Press. Eventually, in 1938, she sold her half interest to John Lehman, who was working for them. The partnership between Lehman and Leonard was stormy and ended in Leonard's buying back Lehman's share. By the time of Virginia's suicide in 1941, the Press had published 400 books.
Every book is outstanding and many are milestones.
I am not convinced that the thing would not be possible. Secondly, one would have to start it, as we did, as a very part-time occupation, making one's living in other ways. Thirdly, one would have to refuse to publish anything unless one thought it worth publishing or the author worth publishing. Most small publishers perish by trying to become too big too quickly. Too many publishers allow their overheads to dictate the size of their business and the kind of books they publish.