"The only realistic UK suppliers for colour book printing are ourselves and Bath Press, so they weren't spoilt for choice," added Maunder. "But it's still disappointing and there are numerous examples of British firms looking abroad."
National Portrait Gallery Publications' head of trading, Robert Carr-Archer, said: "We thought that it would go to a UK printer, as there's a likelihood of reprints. But the Italian printer was very competitive and could deliver on schedule."
