This will leave big holes in the antiques industry which has been through a number of serious traumas in recent times, the most notable being big switches in taste and generational change.
No more editions of the two magazines which have been drivers of the antiques, art and collectible market over several decades were being prepared for publication, the Jakus told Terry Ingram.
These two subscription or newsstand purchasable publications were "still looking for new owners" but JQ wanted to be assured of the integrity of content in an age of cut and paste journalism stolen from the Internet.
This was nigh impossible, they conceded.
The other, giveaway quarterly publications produced by JQ notably Antiques and Art in NSW, Antique and Art in Victoria and Antiques and Art in Queensland, looked like finding new owners, they said.
The moves were due to lifestyle considerations and not a reflection of the state of the antique business, they insisted.
The antiques trade had moved on but still had an important presence they insisted. The very word "antiques" had become a little passé, auctioneers and dealers preferring the more embracing term "decorative arts".
Many of those who had remained in the business had benefitted from the industry's rationalisation - reduced competition - and evolution while the collectables market had even expanded.
"Although the magazines were going from strength to strength there were other personal challenges," the Jakus, who spend much of their time in Thailand, said in the letter.
"Health related issues have overtaken both of us... and the decision regarding the future of the titles has been made for us." It was time to re-evaluate their priorities.
The possible new owners of the three giveaways had long histories in the trade.
But JQ publishing as a whole appears to have been a labour of love in a difficult landscape with constant changes in its terrain over the 18 years of its operations.
Although the Jakus insist their business has been good it has been clearly due to their energy and drive and the industry will miss them as major role players in its evolution. They were helped by the rejuvenation of the business through antique centres where supplies of the giveaways have been freely available.
Some of the dealers at the top end of the market who patronise World as advertisers continue to flourish although Queen Street, Woollahra, is well known to be a shell of its former centre as a Mecca for the industry.
Acquired in 1996, the Australian Antique Collector had long given some cachet to this business and its retitling as World of Antiques and Art in 2004 gave it a global following which the Jakus, who had a background in market research, heightened by making it available at leading overseas antiques fairs.
Jettisoning the 100 year rule for antiques and inclusion of fine arts by both the trade and the magazine helped broaden both their followings.
World of Antiques and Art , which had been founded by Mr John Hannon of Eastern Suburbs Newspapers in the mid 1970s with the participation of Double Bay antique dealer Mr Peter Cook as editor, enjoyed a long run and continued to prosper with overseas contributions and advertising keenly pursued.
Mr Hannon had sold World of Antiques and Art for a song to Reed Publishing but it no longer fitted in with their operations.
More crustier members of the antique trade rued its feared stronger commercial emphasis but the Jakus who bought it from Reed Publishing of the UK, effectively took it global in both title and content.
Many readers and advertisers were often surprised to find it was edited, printed and published in Australia, Mr Jaku said.
But Australia had been a competitive field for antique glossy publishing with several other titles appearing from time to time from players including Consolidated Press.
Despite the retirement of many of its leading players in the antiques industry and the loss of many well disposed institutional staff in favour of younger media buyers with different perceptions of World continued to have a dedicated following.
