How does shipping work?

We currently offer shipping to the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa; additional destinations will be coming in the future.

For books and cards — In-stock items are shipped within 1–2 working days from our warehouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Books and cards are shipped via USPS Media Mail within the U.S. for a flat rate of $6.95, or by USPS Priority Mail. U.S. shipping is free for book and card orders of $50+. Shipments to Canada are sent via USPS or UPS, and elsewhere via USPS or DHL.

For giclée prints — Orders are printed on demand within 1–5 business days by our printing partner in Brooklyn, New York. Prints are packed and shipped flat in robust cardboard mailers via USPS (within the U.S.) and via other carriers and couriers to other destinations.

For preorders — Preordered items are packed and shipped as soon as they become available, following the same logic outlined above.

How can I check my order status?

After placing your order, you'll receive a confirmation email that includes tracking information. If you need to change your shipping address or any other part of your order, please reply to that email soon as possible. You can also email with your order number.

Can items be returned?

We hope you will love what you receive from Sunlight Papers. If for any reason you are not satisfied with a physical item directly ordered through our website, you may request a return within 30 days of delivery. To be eligible, items must be returned in mint condition, and in their original packaging when possible.

To begin a return, please email with your order number. We will provide instructions and the appropriate return address. Please do not return items directly to the printer or fulfillment partner that shipped your order. For ordinary returns, customers are responsible for return shipping costs. We recommend using a trackable shipping method, as we cannot issue a refund for an item we do not receive.

Once your return has been received and inspected, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment. Original shipping charges are generally non-refundable, except in the case of damaged, defective, or incorrect items, or where otherwise required by law. We do not charge restocking fees.

What about damaged or incorrect items?

If items purchased from our website arrive damaged or different from what you ordered, please email as soon as possible with your order number and photographs showing the issue. We will promptly arrange a replacement item or, where appropriate, issue a refund. In most cases, damaged items do not need to be returned, although we may occasionally ask that an item be returned, and will provide instructions if so.

Can items be exchanged?

We do not currently process direct exchanges. If you would like a different item, please return the original item for a refund and place a new order.

Can orders be canceled?

We will gladly cancel an order if we are able to do so before fulfillment or production has begun. Because certain products, such as giclée prints, are printed especially for each order, production may begin soon after an order is placed and cancellation cannot always be guaranteed.

Are bulk discounts available?

For books — We offer a 20% discount on orders of 10–50 books. Simply place your order through this website, and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. For bulk orders of more than 50 books, please email to discuss special arrangements.

How do wholesale orders work?

For books — To carry our titles in your store, we recommend ordering directly from our distributor, Itasca Books (here's their form for opening a new account). Our books are also available on Ingram iPage.

For cards and prints — If you'd like to carry our cards and prints in your store, please email to learn more.

You can visit our Stockists page to see a partial list of current retailers.

Where do you print your books?

We are delighted to print and bind our books with Balto Print, an art book printer located in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Who distributes your books?

We are glad to be working with Itasca Books to provide distribution to the book trade. If you're a retailer who'd like to carry our titles, learn about wholesale.

Can I introduce you to my favorite bookstore?

Yes! Please feel free to put us in touch via email — or simply email with the store's name and location, and we'll take it from there! Thank you!

What are your inspirations?

Sunlight Papers is inspired by the rich tradition of illuminated works that stretches back to early masterpieces like The Book of Kells and the books of William Blake, to more contemporary works by artist/authors such as Dr. Seuss, Nicholas Roerich, Maurice Sendak, Ul De Rico, Trina Schart Hyman, Peter Cross, Shel Silverstein, and Peter Sís, to creative collectives like Disney Animation, Studio Ghibli, Pixar, and The Bread & Puppet Theater.

Is the original artwork for sale?

The original artwork featured in our publications is not currently for sale, though giclée prints of certain paintings are available for purchase. These are printed in open editions on 308 gsm Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper (acid-free 100% cotton), using 11 individual inks with an archival life of 80 years. The color quality is quite amazing. Our prints make a beautiful addition to any home, office, or classroom environment. Here's some guidance on framing.

How should I frame my prints?

Our fine art giclée prints are offered at four standard picture sizes — 8×10", 12×15", 16×20", and 24×30" — making it easy to find affordable pre-made frames to match (here are some on Etsy). In order to protect the delicate surface of each print from UV light and scuffing, framing under glass or acrylic is recommended. You could also consider using magnetic wooden poster clamps such as these or others — though clamps are only appropriate for prints that will be hung in low-traffic locations, as they don't provide the same level of protection as traditional glass or acrylic.

How can I follow your work?

For updates on new titles, please join our Substack or connect with us on Instagram. Thanks for following along!