Smoke and HAt Press
A Microbindery Devoted to Classic Spy Fiction
We started in a cramped office next door to a dressmaker. One workbench. One wooden press. One old air-conditioner rattling in the window. Everything was done by hand—no shortcuts. Just a deep love for classic spy novels and a belief that stories about deception, loyalty, and quiet heroism deserved to be bound with just as much care.
Years later, not much has changed—except the tools are better, the workspace a little bigger, and the books even better.
Welcome to our espionage microbindery: where timeless espionage fiction meets handcrafted design. We specialize in binding and preserving the greats alongside cult favorites and overlooked gems from the golden age of spycraft storytelling.
Each book we produce is a quiet act of devotion:
Bound in full-grain leather or heritage cloth
Sewn with threat, not just held together by glue.
Numbered, limited, and made to outlast the secrets they hold
We don’t mass-produce. We don’t chase trends. We bind what matters.
SPY NOVELs
There’s something about a classic spy novel that just feels right. The smell of the paper, the weight of a story that’s been around the block—dangerous, unapologetic, and loaded with intrigue. These aren’t your flimsy, forgettable beach reads. These are the real deal. The kind of books you sip with a hot cup of black coffee. The kind you throw in your bag before a red-eye to Istanbul.
Inside? Cigarette smoke curling through backroom deals, revolvers tucked into tailored jackets, and agents who know too much for their own good. Double agents, femme fatales, coded messages scribbled on napkins—this is where the world turns on a whispered secret and a well-placed bullet. Every page a step deeper into the unknown, where the only thing deadlier than the enemy’s gun is their ability to charm you into trusting them.
These books aren’t just stories; they’re experiences. You can feel the tension, smell the sweat and cologne of a dimly lit rendezvous in Paris, hear the quiet click of a silencer before things go sideways. Every turn of the page is a step closer to the truth—one that might just get you killed. But hey, what’s life without a little risk?
A leather-bound spy novel is an investment in good taste. A nod to the old-school cool of espionage and adventure, of men and women who live fast, die young, and leave behind only rumors and classified files. This isn’t some mass-market paperback you dog-ear and toss aside. This is a book you respect. A book that demands a stiff drink, a good chair, and a quiet night where nothing exists except you, the words, and the shadowy world within them.
So go ahead, crack it open. Trust no one. Read boldly. And remember—once you’re in, there’s no going back.
GARMENT DISTRICT
"Why Make It in the Garment District? Because Anything Else is Bullsh*t"
Look, you can chase cheap labor across the globe, cut corners, and slap your name on some mass-produced, soulless product. Or—you can do it the right way. You can make something that actually matters.
That means making it in New York City’s Garment District—a place where craftsmanship still counts, where people actually give a damn about the work they do, and where history and hustle collide to create something worth reading.
Craft books
Let’s be honest—most things these days are cheap, soulless, and built to be replaced. Mass-produced garbage that’s forgotten the second something shinier comes along. But a craft book? That’s different. That’s something real.
A book made in a small bindery—printed, sewn, and built to last—is a middle finger to the disposable world we live in. It’s not about nostalgia. It’s about respect. Respect for the craft, for the written word, for the idea that some things should outlive us. It’s about creating something you’ll actually want to hold, open, and fill with whatever the hell matters to you.
Quality Materials
"Because a Book Shouldn’t Just Be Read—It Should Be Experienced"
A book is more than just words on a page. It’s something you hold, something you feel. The weight in your hands, the scent of rich leather, the whisper of finely crafted paper as you turn the page—these are the things that make reading an experience, not just an action.
That’s why quality matters. If you’re going to bind a book, do it right. Use full-grain leather, the kind that ages beautifully, developing character over time—just like the stories it holds. Use the highest quality American paper, thick and smooth, the kind that doesn’t just absorb the words but enhances them. A book like this isn’t just something you own—it’s something you keep.
Why Quality Leather and Paper? Because Anything Less is Forgettable.
Leather That Tells a Story – Cheap leather cracks, flakes, and falls apart. Full-grain leather gets better with age, developing a patina that’s as unique as the reader who carries it. This isn’t just a cover—it’s an heirloom.
Paper That Demands to Be Touched – The difference between great paper and cheap paper? It’s everything. These pages won’t yellow, won’t bleed, won’t turn brittle over time. Your words—whether printed or handwritten—deserve a canvas that lasts.
Because a Great Book Deserves a Great Build – You wouldn’t put a Michelin-star meal on a paper plate. So why would you put a beautifully crafted story—or your own words—on thin, flimsy, forgettable paper wrapped in synthetic junk? Respect the content. Respect the craft.
Built to Last. Built to Be Loved. Built for Those Who Care.