Paper Books

A scarce vintage book featuring the creations of the 20th century's top interior designers. When first published Decoration was already an impressive book, with its excellent colour photography, top-quality interiors and stellar cast of designers. It is now a decorating classic and is much sort after. The book's aim is to illustrate how to mix both traditional and contemporary elements in an interior. It does this through text and illustrations of an international selection of homes, owned and decorated by the likes of Francois Catroux, Valentino, David Mlinaric, David Hicks, Alberto Pinto, Charles...

The inimitable style of renowned French interior designer Madeleine Castaing, chronicled in-depth for the first time. While many were drumming to the beat of modernism in the early- ...

A rare set of Daniel Defoe's works published in 1878 by George Bell & son's in London. George Bell & Sons was a reputable publisher in the 19th century, known for producing high-qua...

This is a small vintage reference book 'Wild Flowers of the Wayside and Woodland' by Scott and Stokoe. An English, bound botanical interest guide, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1936. Charmingly illustrative small reference guide to wild flowers Bound in green cloth with embossed titling in contrasting black Presented in good vintage order, pages intact Published in English across 352 pages Superb colour and monochrome illustrations throughout This is delightful vintage wild flower...

The marriage of LaChapelle's vivid, high-octane images with graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo's supersaturated designs make for an astonishing physical object. 'There's a tradition of celebrity portraiture that attempts to uncover the 'real person' behind the trappings of their celebrity. I am more interested in those trappings,' says LaChapelle. Indeed, he exaggerates the artificiality of fame and Hollywood culture in a head on collision of color, plastic, and whimsy. His photographs confront our visual taste and challenge our ideas of celebrity, all the while taking us on a roller coaster ride through his hyper-sensationalized galaxy. Lil' Kim becomes the ultimate status symbol, tattooed in the Louis Vuitton pattern. Madonna rises from pink waters as a mystical dragon princess. Pamela Anderson hatches out of an egg; and Alexander McQueen burns down the castle dressed as the Queen of Hearts. David LaChapelle's uncompromising originality is legendary in the worlds of fashion, film, and advertising. His images, both bizarre and gorgeous, have appeared on and in between the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Vibe and more. LaChapelle Land is fun park America gone surrealistically wrong - but in such an attractive way. David LaChapelle's photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Details, French Vogue, The Face, Detour, The New York Times Magazine, Arena, and on MTV. The images LaChapelle creates are part sex, part satire, part fantasy--in a word, outrageous. This 'mind-blowingly lavish compilation' features portraits of Drew Barrymore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Faye Dunaway, Andy Warhol, Tupac Shakur, Smashing Pumpkins, and many more. Packaged in a beautiful box designed by the legendary Japanese graphic...

This is a pair of antique ornithology books. An English language, 2 volume Hummingbird reference guide, dating to the William IV period, published 1833. Utterly fascinating with col...

The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated out of the Original Tongues: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Spec...

Andrew Lang's grey collection of fairy tales, a lovely volume of his popular series, complete with H. J. Ford's plates. The first edition, first impression. Illustrated with a fron...

Set of sixteen leather bound books by Charles Reade. Charles Reade was known for his novels that often combined elements of romance, social injustice, and moral earnestness. His wo...

A clever, quirky biography of a leading contemporary artist, for children Banksy is a world-famous graffiti artist who secretly spray paints pictures on streets and walls while no o...

“Playful illustrations challenge young readers to think outside the box … Delightful, witty, and imaginative.” —Kirkus, STARRED Review A playfully deceptive, joyously interactive follow-up to award-winning author and illustrator Jean Jullien...

Baedeker's Switzerland. Handbook for travelers by Karl Baedeker. Published by Baedeker, Leipzig, 1911. Since the 1830's Baedeker set the standard for authoritative pocket guidebooks ...

Vibrant vegetarian home-cooking recipes, capturing the essence of the Middle East, from the award-winning author of the best-selling The Lebanese Kitchen This glorious celebration of a bold vegetarian cuisine features 140 easy-to-make, bright, uplifting plant-based recipes, including classics such as falafels, hummus, and tabbouleh, as well as unique dishes reflective of region, religion, and culture across the Levant. The food is fresh and delicious, whether it’s garlic-laced mezze dishes, pittas stuffed with pickles, tahini, and grilled vegetables, or sweet and spicy desserts. Covering a vast area straddling Africa, Asia, and the gateway to Europe, the book embraces the culinary traditions of all corners of the Cradle of Civilization. Hage, one of the world’s authorities on Middle Eastern...

An in-depth exploration of the birth of cooking, as charted by leading authority and iconic chef Ferran Adrià's elBullifoundation Using Ferran Adrià's unique 'Sapiens' methodology, ...

The Moderns: Mid-century American Graphic Design Hardcover – September 19, 2017 by Steven Heller (Author), Greg D'Onofrio (Author). In The Moderns, we meet the men and women who inve...

Nixon, Richard. Six Crises. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1962. Stated first edition. Signed on free endpaper. Presented in the publisher's original dust jacket and gray board...

Art: Over 2500 Works from Cave to Contemporary by Nigel Ritchie Hardback Book. 2008.The definitive visual guide to over 2,500 paintings and sculptures from around the world, from pre...

Interiors designed by Michael Del Piero are full of delightful contradictions. She designs minimalist rooms rich with historical character, meticulously edited gallery-like spaces th...

A set of eight antique French books. These books can beautifully decorate your bookcase or office. The leather spines with gold print are in good ...

Lifting the Curtain on Design Hardcover 2010 by Vicente Wolf. Simplify, Connect, Expand. These principles, each fundamental to the practice of design, provide the framework for inter...

by Maurice Dufrene The dramatic 1925 Paris Expositions des Arts Decoratifs heralded the emergence of the Art Deco movement as a great decorative style. The High Quality photographs i...

A beautiful limited edition set of the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe, illustrated with ten plates to each volume, and signed by the publisher. The Arnheim Edition of Poe's works...

Dutch Colonial Homes in America by Roderic H. Blackburn, Photography by Geoffrey Gross and Susan Piatt, introduction by Harrison Frederick Meeske. Hardcover with dust jacket. 240 pp....

This is 2 large volumes of the antique reference book 'Egypt - Descriptive, Historical and Picturesque by G. Ebers. An English translation by Clara Bell, wi...

The Face in the Pool: A Faerie Tale by J. Allen St. John, also illustrated by the author. A. C. Mcclurg & Co., Chicago, 1905. James Allen St. John (1872-1957) was an American author...

Des Bouvrie: Architecture Interieur Hardcover Book by Jan des Bouvrie and Monique des Bouvrie 2015.Every once in a while a design firm charts a course that is truly memorable, a dire...

A stunningly illustrated, informative introduction to the wonders of rocks and minerals and what they can tell us about our planet – perfect for readers aged 6-9 Award-winning scien...

Over the past two decades, Mickalene Thomas's critically acclaimed and extensive body of work has spanned painting, collage, photography, video, and the immersive installations that ...

George Stubbs - The Anatomy of the Horse - Heywood Hill, London 1938 - Brown Boards and Cloth. lettering in Gilt on brown leather on spine. Something for every library and a large b...

Author Bryan O'Sullivan and Samuel Cochran, Foreword by Annabelle Selldorf New York and London–based interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan creates spaces that mix modern and historical...

The definitive book on the legendary decorator Billy Baldwin, known as the "Dean of American Decorating," famous for his classical taste, streamlined modernism, and brilliant use of colour. In the tradition of Rizzoli’s Albert Hadley and David Hicks, this is the first fully illustrated account of the career of Billy Baldwin (1903–1983), one of the most important decorators of the twentieth century, whose work has influenced contemporary designers from Bunny Williams to Jeffrey Bilhuber. A native of Baltimore, Baldwin’s work caught the eye of eminent New York decorator Ruby Ross Wood. She invited him to join her firm, saying his work stood out "like a beacon of light in the boredom of the houses around it." Baldwin’s style was a revelation—simultaneously classical and modernist, tailored and clean, yet dramatically coloured, and above all American. An enemy of clutter and conspicuous wealth, he favoured natural materials and comfortable furniture. The drama in his rooms often came from colour, as seen in the dark brown lacquered walls of Cole Porter’s library or the scarlet cotton print that covered Diana Vreeland’s apartment. Immensely charming, Baldwin was a popular addition to the high society of New York. His clients included Bill and Deeda Blair, Babe and Bill Paley...

The classic encyclopedia of the arcane in an expanded edition. Renowned philosopher and lecturer Manly P. Hall’s masterful encyclopedia of ancient symbols, hidden rituals, and arcane practices has remained a classic since first published in 1928. Hall’s densely detailed writings explore topics ranging from Hermeticism to Tarot, Egyptian mythology to Pythagorean theory. Each chapter is accompanied by the vivid illustrations of artist J. Augustus Knapp, with additional images by Mihran Serailian found in the companion volume, each taking their own unique approach to nearly 60 artworks depicting occult subject matter. The initial concept for what became known as Hall’s “Great Book”, first began in 1923 when the young Los Angeles-based orator began a months-long trip around the globe. Circumnavigating by ship, Hall visited Egypt, China and India, immersing himself in the philosophical and religious history of each country. Upon his return he spent the next five years penning his massive compendium of philosophy and myth. Nearly a century after its release, this iconic masterwork has been reproduced for the first time from the rare and extravagant original edition. This meticulously-restored version of Hall’s “Great Book” is also accompanied by an expansive companion book, featuring condensed summaries of each chapter of The Secret Teachings, alongside newly-discovered artworks, rare photography...

All Hail the King of Fantasy Art. Frank Frazetta finally gets the big beautiful book he deserves. Frank Frazetta has reigned as the undisputed lord of...

‘When I think about the Connaught Bar, I return again and again to the hospitality, the methodology and the quality experiences that I have experienced there over the past decade.’ –...

Baedeker's Northern, 1897 and Southern Germany, 1914. Handbook for travelers by Karl Baedeker. Published by Baedeker, Leipzig, 1897/1914. Since the 1830's Baedeker set the standard ...

Provence: The Beautiful Cookbook: Authentic Recipes from the Regions of Provence Hardcover – September 24, 1993. by Richard Olney (Author), Michael Freeman (Author), Peter Johnson (P...

'An excellent, encouraging introduction to French home cooking by an author who combines the best culinary qualities of Gallic versions of Irma Rombauer and Fannie Farmer, with just ...

The Complete British Motorcycle The Classics From 1907 To The Present by J Carroll.Hardcover with dust jacket. Profusely illustrated throughout.British motorcycles attract a fanatica...

Dreamwheeling. The stories behind 100 of the world’s most coveted automobiles. From the adrenaline-filled 24 Hours of Le Mans to the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lake Como’s famed Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to the premier Monterey Car Week, the collector car calendar and market has shown one of the most extraordinary growth trajectories of recent years. As thousands flock to specialized meet ups, rallies, auctions, and Concours d’Elegance around the globe, asking prices for the rarest motors have revved higher and higher. So much so, that the value of the 100 cars included in this book exceeds a staggering $ 1 billion. For the seasoned car collector or the awestruck newcomer, this double-volume is the unrivaled collector car anthology. Curating 100 of the most exquisite, remarkable, and desirable cars of all time to tell a spellbinding story of automotive design-and-engineering endeavor in the tireless pursuit of ever-greater performance both on and off the track, from the first Indy 500-winning 1910 Marmon Wasp to the futuristic 2020 Aston Martin Valkyrie. Laps ahead of any generic catalog, this superlative volume exudes authority and elegance, settling for nothing less than the very best of the best, and presenting each model with the lavish spreads it deserves, complete with stunning imagery taken by the world’s leading car photographers alongside rare archival treasures, from original factory photos to famous motorsports event posters. Each entry is also accompanied by expert descriptive texts and specs, detailing each car’s make, model, year, engine size, horsepower, top speed, transmission, and all-important production numbers. By passionately tapping into their transatlantic expertise and insider knowledge of car auctions, museums, and collections around the world, design authors Peter and Charlotte Fiell survey the autoworld's finest cars of all time. Their carefully curated selection spans the whole history of the automobile, taking in such rare models as a 1912 Stutz Model A Bearcat, as well as lesser-known jewels such as the astonishing 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS “Goutte d’Eau” Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi. This definitive compendium includes a foreword from Rob Myers, the founder of RM Sotheby’s, and includes an introduction from the authors that gives a unique perspective on the ins and outs of car collecting...

Exceptional and extensive compilation of the magnificent work and autobiography of Miguel Berrocal, ranging from exhibitions and collections to his monumental works, passing through ...

Persia The Immortal Kingdom by Ghirshman Minorsky Sanghvi 1971. Persia, the Immortal Kingdom by Vladimir Minorsky, Ramesh Sanghvi and Roman Ghirshman, William MacQuitty (photographs)...

Sotheby's Catalog, An Important Russian Imperial Jewel. Geneva 17 November 2005. 1st Ed hardcover. "An impressive and highly important diamond ornament from the collection of the Russian Imperial Family, Russia, second half of the 18th century. This diamond necklace with bowknot clasp is not only a remarkable jewel in itself, but its Russian royal provenance puts it in a class of its own. It evokes the blinding splendour of Catherine II, Empress of Russia: the magnificence of her court, her parks, her palaces, her art collections, and monuments. The most striking and colourful figure on the stage of European political life, for thirty four years she ruled a mighty empire which stretched from Siberia to Poland and left it stronger, larger and richer than when she came to the throne in 1762. After her death in 1796, her friend the Prince de Ligne, who had named her Catherine the Great, declared that this title- which has never been lost- resumed all her genius, courage, sense of justice, and force of character. Using her court as a stage, she played the part of an autocratic but enlightened ruler to perfection, imposing in her public appearances, kind and charming in private. The French ambassador, the Comte de Ségur who noticed how “her majestic head and brow, proud look and dignified deportment made her seem taller than she was”, was also impressed by her feminine grace “ her aquiline nose, well shaped mouth, Saxe blue eyes beneath dark lashes, gentle glance and seductive smile”. In spite of her success, she once confided to the Prince de Ligne that she could have served Russia better if she had been born a man. Ever the courtier, he assured her that being a woman was a positive advantage. “Believe me, you are so much more impressive in your beautiful embroidered orange red velvet dolman or tunic than a man decked out in boots and shoulder sash can ever be. In addition the five huge diamonds blazing out from your hair are far more effective than a man’s hat which is either ridiculously small or ridiculously big”. He was right. Her diamond jewellery proclaimed her power and her rank as Empress and appealed to the Russian taste for sumptuous goods. It impressed the Rev. William Coxe, visiting St. Petersburg in 1778: “the glory and the splendor of the clothing of the court and abundance of precious stones leave the opulence of other European courts far behind” and his opinion was shared by the acute Madame de Stael...

Indisputably the grande dame of modern design, Andrée Putman burst onto the scene twenty-five years ago with the graphic, black-and-white interiors of the Morgans Hotel in New York. ...

Two containers made from antique velum books. They are triangular in shape, each adorned with a faded golden design against a lighter background. The diamond-shaped central motif, b...

by David Bailey & Peter Evans Bailey and Evan's biographical portraits of the cultural figures that defined the swinging sixties, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marianne ...

A clever, quirky picture-book biography of one of the most important figures of modern and contemporary art Louise Bourgeois was a world-famous artist who told stories of her life t...

Chagall; (Twentieth-century masters) Hardcover – January 1, 1971 by Marc Bucci, Mario; Chagall (Author). Text: English, Italian (translation). 94 pages, Hardcover. First published Ja...

The “Standard” Edition of The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha, Translated out of the Original Tongues, Together with Cruden’s Complete Concordance… and Revised New Testament, with Many Other Important and Useful Aids to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, All Written to Increase the Interest in and Simplify the Study of the Word of God. Syracuse: Bible Publishing House, 1885. Standard Edition. Illustrated with steel and wood engravings and chromolithographs. Large quarto, with original full leather carved and gilded boards. Gilded edges and pewter clasps. Presented with a custom-made archival clamshell box. Presented is a beautifully restored and exquisitely bound Holy Bible from 1885. This family bible was published by the Bible Publishing House, in Syracuse, New York. It contains both the Old and New Testaments, and the Apocrypha and Cruden’s Complete Concordance. It also boasts 100,000 marginal references and readings, Dr. William Smith’s “Standard Bible Dictionary,” a complete history of all the books of the bible, biblical scenery, and “Manners and Customs of the Ancients.” For studying, it includes “Bible Aids for Social and Private Prayer,” the history of translation of the bible, a history of all religious denominations, “Psalms in Meter,” and a “Teachers’ Bible Textbook.” It is decorated with stunning full and half page illustrations, printed as steel engravings, wood engravings, and chromolithographs, illustrating scenes in the life of Christ, bible text events from Genesis to Revelation, natural history, and several maps of the Holy Land engraved by L.B Folger. It also contains a stunning dedication page, a marriage license...

The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Motorcycles by Tod Rafferty. This lavishly illustrated history winds its way through the 20th century by exploring such popular Amer...

A set of 20 antique French books from the De Maupassant series. These books can beautifully decorate your bookcase or office. These books are not ...

The first edition of the final novel published during Virginia Woolf's lifetime, in an especially bright example of the sought-after Vanessa Bell dust wrapper. The first edition, fi...

TASCHEN’s Guide to the Digital Art Revolution. Robert Alice’s On NFTs is the first major art historical survey text on the most compelling, disruptive area of contemporary art today. A rigorous and critical examination of all facets of the NFT ecosystem, On NFTs takes a multidimensional, artist-led approach, leaving its readers with a richer understanding of a topic often shrouded in misconception and pixelated mystery. The book, presented in TASCHEN’s iconic grand-scale BABY SUMO...

Sherman, William T. Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Written By Himself. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1875. First edition. In two volumes. Rebound in quarter blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and gilt titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers. New custom archival cloth slipcase with Sherman portrait inlay. Presented is a first edition printing of The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman. This two volume book set was published by D. Appleton and Company, in New York, in 1875. It is presented here, rebound in striking quarter blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and gilt titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers, and a custom archival cloth slipcase to fit both books. Ten years after the end of the Civil War, Sherman became the first General to publish his memoirs of that period. He began writing his account in 1872 and the two volumes were published by D. Appleton and Company in the spring of 1875. According to the publisher’s prospectus, the two volume set was originally offered in four different bindings, including fine blue cloth, green cloth, full sheepskin, and half blue moroccan leath. Sherman explains his motivations for writing in the preface of Volume I: “Nearly ten years have passed since the close of the civil war in America, and yet no satisfactory history thereof is accessible to the public;…. What is now offered is not designed as a history of the war, or even as a complete account of all the incidents in which the writer bore a part, but merely his recollection of events, corrected by a reference to his own memoranda, which may assist the future historian when he comes to describe the whole, and account for the motives and reasons which influenced some of the actors in the grand drama of war.” His two volume account touches briefly on his early life, including his time at West Point, his life in and out of the army in Florida, California, New York, Kansas, and Louisiana. Yet the bulk of the writing is focused on the Civil War. “Written with the propulsive energy and intelligence that marked his campaigns” his memoir provides firsthand accounts of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the infamous Atlanta campaign, and his march to the sea through Georgia and the Carolinas. The memoir describes striking incidents and anecdotes and collects dozens of his incisive and often outspoken wartime orders and reports. Throughout it all, Sherman is quite frank in describing the rights and wrongs of the campaigns he saw, writing without much concern for the feelings or experiences of others. This complex self-portrait of an innovative and relentless American general provides for a vivid read and an exceptional Civil War account. CONDITION: Good condition. First edition. In two volumes. Beautifully restored and rebound. Quarter blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and gilt titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers. Paper is okay to good, with toning as to be expected. Scattered spots and smudges. Inscribed twice by previous owner, inscription on the top of the Note page of Vol I and on the full title page of Vol II. Large "Military Map...

In Art in Flower, Lindsey Taylor introduces an original take on floral design that teaches us to see the world anew Based on Lindsey Taylor's popular W...

8 of 10 volumes (2-7 and 9-10) Chambers's Miscellany of Instructive & Entertaining Tracts New and Revised Edition, printed 1872 by W. & R. Chambers, Edinburgh. Uniformly bound in hal...

A visual celebration of Christmas, from religious beginnings to festive cultural touchstones – a book to treasure This book is a unique and groundbreaking visual celebration of Christmas, a joyous religious and cultural occasion observed by billions of people around the world. The origins of Christmas are in the Christian observance of the birth of Christ on 25 December and, since the early 20th century, it has become a secular holiday with a myriad decorations, rituals, and themes. Key themes covered include advent and the nativity; the Christmas tree and holiday decorations; gift giving and carol singing; classic Christmas films; and festive music. This extraordinary book showcases a broad spectrum of global festive traditions from many different cultures, such as fried chicken eaten for Christmas dinner, surfing Santas, and shoes filled with carrots. A collection of more than 200 rich and evocative images, paintings, books, prints, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and photography, thoughtfully paired to highlight similarities and contrasts between them, the works included feature a diverse range of both lesser-known and iconic artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Grandma Moses, Beatrix Potter, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and many more. These significant works cover festive topics such as Advent; the Christmas tree and holiday decorations; gift giving and carol singing; and classic Christmas films and music. Essays by Sam Bilton, Dolph Gotelli and David Trigg explore traditional festive food and drink, Santa Claus throughout history, and the religious origins of Christmas. In The Christmas Book...

Sotheby's, English Furniture, Ceramics and Decorations: Including Property from the Collections of the Dowager Duchess of Bedford and Mrs. Douglas Auchincloss Oct. 20 & 21, 2003. No....

An evocative and personal chef monograph – and an ode to wood-fired cooking – from Japan's exciting emerging chef Monk is the story of Yoshihiro Imai's 14-seat, seasonally inspired ...