At present, it is contemplated that the print edition of The Joseph Smith Papers will consist of about twenty volumes, divided into five series: Documents (about twelve volumes), Journals (three volumes), Revelations and Translations (three volumes), Histories (two volumes), and Legal and Business Records (one volume). In addition, transcripts of all known and available Joseph Smith documents will be published on the Joseph Smith Papers website, along with the annotation from the printed volumes and images of almost all of the documents.
The resources required to publish a documentary editing papers volume are substantial, which is why most volumes of the Founding Fathers papers projects typically sell for more than $100. Because the Joseph Smith Papers Project has private funding as well as Church support, it has been able to reduce the cost per volume. Most volumes will be priced at or near $50, but volume prices will vary depending on the number of pages, whether the volume is in color, and other factors. The volumes of The Joseph Smith Papers are made of high-quality components (acid-free paper, Smyth-sewn binding, dyed cloth cover, and heavy cover board), which will allow the volumes to sustain decades of regular library use.
