Editions Assouline, the Paris-based publisher of fashion and photography books, has established an office in New York to expand its American publishing program. Assouline Publishing will release four titles this fall and expects to publish 7 -- 10 titles annually beginning in 2000.

Rizzoli previously distributed a limited number of Assouline titles to the trade, but company founder Prosper Assouline said he "felt it was the right moment" to launch a U.S. list. "We want to publish books of high quality about American culture," Assouline told PW.

The company's first title, Portraits by David Seider, was just released with a 3500-copy first printing. Its second title, Paul Himmel, is due out in November, and American Photographs 1900 -- 2000 is scheduled to ship by the end of the month. The final title of the year will be its first "alternative" guidebook, New York Confidential, 1999 -- 2000.