Official book collectors thread

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You're probably thinking of Albion Scott Motorbooks that was between Park & Madison - opposite the Hemsley Palace Hotel. Albion Scott was in a small storefront upstairs above the military books... The other book store, for great automotive books & some specialty magazines, which was my favorite bookstore, and I went there every couple of weeks for years when I lived in NYC (1970's through 1980's) was Gordon's on 55th street between 5th & Madison, near the St. Regis Hotel. Gordon's was a fabulous specialty bookstore, small, great selection, great owners, and where I discovered & bought my first issue of Cavallino (issue #2). Gordon's also had wonderful books on Photography, Architecture, Design, etc. Sadly, both Gordon's and Albion Scott are long gone.

I also did an extensive amount of business with Jacques Vaucher, bought many good books from him as well as art, from his first location in the East 60's, then from the Penthouse on East 34th street (until some big clients closed their wallets & left him). He then moved to NJ, then back to NYC, then out to Long Island, and finally to Texas.

 

Marshall,
Your post brought back great memories. In 1969, I was a freshman at New York University. On the wall of my dormitory room I had a Watkins Glen Grand Prix poster. One fellow resident saw the poster: “You should visit my uncle’s bookstore - Gordon’s on 55th St., near the St. Regis, lots of motoring titles and magazines”. First opportunity, off to 55th St. A thoroughly enlightening visit. I began there collecting a few books as I could afford, learned of the British motorsport weekly ‘Autosport’ – they would save issues for me, every month I stopped by to pick them up. With an interest in architecture also, Gordon’s was a prime destination. Even after university, I would visit NYC for my favorite haunts – Gordon’s, Albion Scott, Jacques Vaucher’s gallery. To this day, it is nice to see Jacques at a show. Gordon’s then closed, and may have (not sure) evolved into Chartwell’s (lobby, Park Avenue Plaza, 52nd Street, between Park and Madison). Chartwell's exists, with historical works on Winston Churchill a specialty. That poster on the wall was a magnet. Another dormitory resident saw it - “You should meet my roommate, Rusty Hansgen.” “You mean related to Walt Hansgen??” “Yes, his son.” Rusty invited me to go along to the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. My first experience to a Grand Prix, followed by more. Though his father had died at Le Mans trials a few years earlier, Rusty still had interest in motor sport. He had a FIAT 124 Coupe, our transportation to the Glen, and his father’s skills. The drive from Ithaca to the town of Watkins Glen was a white knuckle ride - he had that little FIAT between 5,000 and near 7,000 rpm on the back roads. Fortunately he was not caught – with no place to stay the first night, the local Chamber of Commerce got us a guest room at the home of the Watkins Glen Sheriff! Good times. Visiting NYC today, it has lost the raw panache of the past.

 

Yes Albion Scott, that's the one, really enjoyed the store and people. I did not experience the other one.

I also bought Cavallinos at Rizzoli's on 57th street, a general book store but a very nice one.

Regarding Jacques Vaucher's penthouse gallery I brought a girlfriend there and in the elevator she asked me if we were really going to a store in such an unlikely location atop a residential building or whether I had set up a trap for her.
I recall buying a photo of the 275 Nart spyder at Sebring 67. He had an amazing Daytona model that must have been 1/5 scale for almost €20K!

 

Although I never visited Albion Scott I certainly recall the name. Did they advertise in R&T or Competition Press?

 

The enjoyable discussion about newsstands suddenly brought to my mind an episode I had long forgotten: Some 35 or more years ago, I went to the newsstand at the railway station of the comparably small city of Wilhelmshaven at the North Sea coast, which was the nearest town from where I lived some 25 kilometres away. And as a very young aficionado of Ferrari, I couldn't believe my eyes to see two or three copies of Cavallino at the shelves! What a fantastic Ferrari magazine that was! I hadn't known it before.

So, for a while, when I had the opportunity and still lived nearby, every two months I went there to look for the newest edition.

I think in the old times these shops were shaped by the enthusiasm of their owners rather than corporate contracts today which dictate which magazines are offered at station shops countrywide.

Today, I regret to have never met the man or woman who ran the very little shop and was so informed and enthusiastic to offer Cavallino.

 

Spending 500,000 to 700,000 Euro per year.... was he an average spending Ferrari book collector too ??!!

 

The bookstore has a stock of about 30.000 books, Karl had 10 times that number.

 

Would be interested to know how they make any money. So much tied up in stock.

 

Big turnover.

 

Remember we are talking about a general book store now, not one specialized in cars or anything else. Lagerfeld wasn't buying car books.

He lived just across the river Seine on the waterfront, they sold his penthouse for a fortune recently so he had just the Tuileries gardens (just west of Le Louvre) and a foot bridge to cross to go home from that bookstore...Paris life at its best.

 

The discussion of bookstores in NYC in the 90s brings back memories of being a young architect in the city at the time, and taking Saturdays to hit all the (mostly used) bookshops. I forget some of the names but the Arch League of NYC had one in an arm of the Villard Houses at the foot of the Helmsley. There were a number on 57th street, Argosy on 59th, Brentano's on 5th, a couple on W17th between 5th and 6th, the Strand at Broadway and 12th, Perimeter in Soho, plus Rizzoli SOHO. Also a couple on Broadway in the 70s as well as a couple up around Columbia U. I'd spend my limit while getting my exercise walking and toting heavy books, buy cheap food, and read my weekend away. By around 2002 it seems like brick and mortar bookstores (particularly used) were in decline, although I think the Strand endures.

Pasteiners is great, with a well informed friendly owner. They carry most of the major contemporary automotive publishers, with reasonably priced used stock mixed in. And lots of scale miniatures and other automobilia.

In downtown Detroit, John King used books is worth a stop if you enjoy an old school warehouse based, multi story, dusty treasure trove.

If there are enthusiasts who have used bookstore recommendations, it might be worth its own thread. I still try to make time to patronize them when traveling and would appreciate any tips.

 

This just arrived today. Of course, if you have the first 5 books in the series, you know what it's all about. Naturally, lots of Ferrari success in the first half of the book. Expensive, but (IMO) worth it.

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Would have been cheaper for him to have just bought a state library !!

 

Mark, you have an interesting history! I'm a bit jealous!

 

This week’s Porter newsletter had no mention of the Chinetti/N.A.R.T. book. And there are no updates on the Bull web site for its version which was rumored to be ready for Monterey week.

 

Any updates on any Ferrari Porter Press books?

 

I didn’t notice any, but one of their single-model or single-chassis profile books might have been mentioned. I’ve already deleted the message, but I think their newsletters are available on the web site.

 

PP Newsletter, Issue 92:
"With their long lead time, I am keen that we get started on two or three more books in our Ultimate series so they will be ready for publication next year. Therefore, I am delighted to announce that we are working, together with Moritz Werner, on Ultimate Ferrari 275 GTB."

 

Fingers crossed on the 275 GTB book, a proper treatment is long overdue.

 

I'm not clear if that means Moritz Werner is writing it or just collaborating in some way (like Girardo and DK did with the Prodrive 550 book). Has he written anything before?

 

I just looked at the Bull forthcoming titles page….nothing on it about Chinetti/NART.

 

Back to book stores for a short moment... I just became aware that Autobooks-Aerobooks in California is for sale... owners want to retire.

 

That is a great shop with friendly dynamic owners, I only visited once when I was in LA April 2013 but we've stayed in touch and a couple of years ago I arranged for them to distribute a French book (not by me).
I hope it survives and thrives as the new world has far too few such shops.

 

For longer than I can recall, I have been aware of Brenda Vernor having written a book about the Ferrari drivers during her time at Maranello. Finally it appears to have made it to print! https://www.libreriadellautomobile.it/en/prodotto/my-boys-2/