This is an excellent new topic and should draw some interest.
Interesting parallel in regards to editions and production between books and records. Personally, apart from thematical concept and a few other matters, I think there are very few concrete similarites between the medium of books and records. How we experience the world of sound and images are oppositional and in my book cannot be reconciled.
What Mikko said re the entrence of digital production is correct and actually an importat watershed. Since the exit of gravure printing (a very costly high quality printing mode) in commerical printing, digital offset is now pretty much the standard - at least here in Norway. The turn over for a printing job is today faster and less costlier for us.
The reduction in production expences came with a cost: A reduced printing quality. Tody's digital printing systems do not have the same technical capabilites as the bygone gravure printing. This is apparent, if we for intstance compare some of the recent re-printed photo books by Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama - with his 1970s originals. The new prints lack subtle tonality variations as wel as sharpness, and are usually printed with an inch more contrast. I should also point out that the paper used in commercial printing is phased out. The paper alone also affect how the image is presented. A comparison can also be done with 1960s-1970s Japanese photo magazines. These prints are of superior print quality than any contemporary re-print. Often printed using the gravure method. Before publishing his works in photo books, Moriyama presented several photo series in several photo magazines. If you are interested in the materialty of a product, or the photography medium in itself, this is an interesting and recommended study.
The photo book as a medium have its own parameters just as music, film or literature. A photo book can present meaning visually with a unique set of rules and applications. Personally, I think of it as an exhibition space within the social strata on the same level as a gallery space. The production of a photo book is a craft in itself. A well executed photo book may be a powerful visual experience. Furthermore, I think we can extend the concept of image editing as we see in photo books to published magazines within art, but also adult contents. A well made product is just that: A well made product.
If you are on instagram you may browse the Where frost reign book stream channel with the context above in mind. Available now are 1960s Japanese photo magazines, various photo books and SM magazines/photo books.
Book stream:
https://www.instagram.com/where___frost___reign___8mm/ 
