The rags (meant only figuratively here) to riches story will have another real life incident added to its list of anecdotes. Latest buzz in the news world tells us that an extremely lucky and ignorant British family had the first edition of Charles Darwin’s the ‘Origin of Species’ eating dust on their bookshelf. Well, they just happened to see a picture of the book’s spine somewhere, which led them pondering, “Don’t we have this at home?”

And they were right. Reuters report that the book was originally purchased for just a few shillings way back in th 60s or 70s (the family does not remember). Since then, it lay undiscovered on a dusty shelf. But now, a rather bright and glamorous future awaits this book that will be auctioned off at Christie’s to celebrate the edition’s 150th anniversary. The estimated price is between $66,000 and $100,000.
So, it’s a lesson learnt that more attention should be paid to the attic and dusty, forgotten areas of the house. After all, you might not have the faintest idea what valuables might be lying there in wait for you!

Via reuters

The famous Italian fashion label Prada has given things in plenty to put in our wardrobe. But now, the powerhouse of style and exuberance has shifted its focus on to our bookshelf what with the recent unveiling of a ‘big’ (stress intended) book. This 706-page tone has tried to capture 30 years of innovations and experiments in a whole lot of related worlds like art, fashion, cinema, communications and even architecture.

With a simple name like ‘Prada’, this one impresses enough to make a bookworm out of us. Prada Progetto Arte has published this exciting venture that is quite sure to have the entire reading world as well as non-reading world swooning all over.

The main motivation of the endeavour was to illustrate all aspects of fashion and entertainment with a strong dose of history thrown in. The presentation is very appealing and it ensures that there isn’t a single dull moment in your reading experience. You can lay your hands on this heavy collection for your home library at all the Prada stores across the world. The price is 100 Euros.

Via hypebeast

And we thought only the cost of making a super car would be expensive. Well, even a book that shows you how to do that comes at a mindboggling price of $4500. This one is the baby of the guys over at Kirkham Motorsports and we are told it explains the various processes involved in the making of a car out of an aluminum billet.

It was the CEO of Oracle, Larry Ellison that brought Kirkham Motorsports into the picture by commissioning them to build an amazing aluminum billet roadster. And perhaps, that was an excuse enough to drive these designers and motorists to make a book of secrets and sell it to the world. We are told that it took close to two and a half years for the book to be completed.

And to match the theme of its contents, the billet bound book has its cover milled out of a 35 pound aluminum billet. Part of a limited run (we do not have any specific idea as to how many units ended up fo sale) the book will set you back by a $4,500 for a copy.

Via hackaday

Anything bearing the name Louis Vuitton has to be larger than life. Books included. The new coffee table version from Rizzoli is called Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture. And this one is a great anthology of the the fashion house’s collaboration with international elite artists, architects, designers and photographers like Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Takashi Murakami (who by the way is credited for updating the LV monogram) as well as Richard Prince and Stephen Sprouse.

And these literary pieces are well complemented by stunning and rare images. The critical essays examine (and critically so) the position of Louis Vuitton’s patronage under the guidance of Artistic Director Marc Jacobs. From the looks of ut, this one was the most fertile of all periods for the brand.

The book is very organised and systematic. Serving as an encyclopedia, it has been divided alphabetically giving information on all collaborations, commissions and sponsorhips LV has been associated with over the years.

Via amazon

Perhaps the most hated man in the world (closely followed by a certain ex-U.S. prez), Adolf Hitler still manages to grab headlines years after his demise. Apparently, a signed copy of he dictator’s infamous manifesto “Mein Kampf” was discovered and sold for a huge $35K. The controversial book has been banned in Germany ever since the end of the second World War but it is still published and sold in most countries of the world.

The particular copy that we are referring to was autographed by Hitler and was given to a fellow inmate at the Bavarian jail where this literary piece was realized by the man  during his four-year prison sentence in the mid-1920s. Just so you know, the pre-publication second edition was sold at the auction held by Mullock’s Auctioneers. To this, a rare books expert said that the bidding price was a bit high for a second edition.

The expert even said that the real value of the book lies in the signature. It would have been far more interesting if the book was annotated throughout. Otherwise, one can read paperback editions anywhere in the world.

Via telegraph

There is a reason why Formula One is touted as perhaps one of the most expensive sports. Well as an expected consequence, the sport also ends up selling some real expensive merchandise unlike its peers in the field. And if you are an F1 fan, we are quite sure that you’d already be owning one of those amazing F1 Racing books. But there is one more that you can add to your collectibles.

This one is called the Formula One Champions Opus book and is as big as the sport can get, literally. Yes, the book’s surprisingly over-sized as it contains a whole range of photos and articles on F1 racing, thereby making it a must-have for all die-hards of the sport.

We also hear that this one is the largest book ever produced on F1 racing and has also been signed by every living F1 champion. At $40,000 the book’s a real delight. Plus the black and white chess-board cover will make the book sit pretty on your coffee table, but just be careful because you can’t afford to spill any on this one!

Via luxurylaunches

After “Michelangelo, The Dotta Mano” (Michelangelo, the main scholarly), it’s “La Dotta Mano” (the learned hand) for art lovers. The name ‘Michelangelo’ is being refreshed in our minds with the efforts of Marilena Ferrari, its Italian publisher who thinks books are losing their identity due to the Internet which is acting as its nemesis. An extravagant, 62-pound handmade tome depicting the life and work of Michelangelo has arrived at the New York Public Library, fresh from publication in Italy. The book is filled with photographs of Michelangelo’s drawings and sculptures — creations from the Sistine Chapel ceiling to his very personal poetry. The velvet- and marble-bound, most expensive book – “La Dotta Mano” will go on public display this coming Tuesday morning through Dec. 8.

The book has a front cover made of white marble from Michelangelo’s favorite quarry, in Carrara and the binding is covered with red silk velvet. The price is 100,000 Euros. The extravagance has been produced using Italian artisan skills dating to the Renaissance which takes six months to craft! Marilena Ferrari provides a 500-year warranty to the Michelangelo book to make a point for the vanishing act the good things like books do these days lasting so merely which is not enough to make a mark or even a scratch, so to say.

Via Journal Inquirer