The contract, which the Essex-based printer estimates will be worth about £100,000 over the term, will include a broad range of work, including books with CDs inside and fold-out archaeological maps as large as AO.

"They're not mainstream," said managing director Dave Button. "But English Heritage doesn't want any books out of publication."

The contract runs for two years with a two-year extension. English Heritage received 70 applicants for the work and drew up a shortlist of three before awarding the contract to 4edge.

The company, which was the encumbent holder of the contract, provides all of its services in-house with the exception of case-binding, which is done by hand by a local business.

It runs a range of black-and-white and colour Canon digital presses, including C7000, CLC 3220 and imagePrograf 8100 machines.

4edge employs nine staff and has a turnover of £650,000. As well as English Heritage work, it counts Pearson Education, MacMillan and Wiley & Sons among its client roster.