Scottish born photographer Harry Benson has amazed people all over the world for six decades now with his incomparable point of view and quality of pictures. And now he has a new book to offer. This is called ‘Harry Benson: Photographs‘ and  it comes from the powerHouse publishing workshop. A li’l birdie told us that this one is a visual celebration of an extremely rocking career of the creative photographer.

The entire globe is covered along with realms like pop culture, celebrity, art, fashion, sports, politics and photojournalism. Did you know that Benson has clicked every American President since Eisenhower. This includes Robert Kennedy on the night he was assassinated to Martin Luther King Jr. at his funeral. Celebs like Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Greta Garbo and Truman Capote have all been photographed by him too.

Event events like the rise and fall of the Berlin wall, the Watts riots, 9/11 and others have been recorded by him on still film. You can see them all in this wonderful compilation book. We also hear that it carries several never seen before shots of Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, Sophia Loren, Kate Moss, Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Alfred Hitchcock and Andy Warhol.

Via amazon

The Vatican is a great topic of discussion with believers and non-believers alike. Tonnes have been written about it in books and novels while the film industry never runs short of tales to tell about the same. But this time it is the Vatican who tries to reveal itself in a new book dubbed, The Vatican Secret Archives. This one sprawls across 252 pages and is full of colored pictures that give you chronological tour through the path taken by this branch of Christianity.

So you get to read everything from Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum, which is an ancient book that carries formulas currently in use by the Papal Chancellery and goes back to the 8th century, to letters from Mary Queen of Scots to Pope Sixtus V, from Pius X to Hitler and so on.

Though the regular book is available for common folk like us on Amazon.com for just 100 bucks (USD), the true collectors would like to splurge on the limited edition of 33 which is handbound in the studio of the Vatican Secret Archives. Each book is numbered, stamped and certified and it sells for € 4,950. We also hear that these 33 buyers might just end up getting a unique tour of the Vatican Secret Archives.

Via thestar

Gucci has once again worn the ‘nobel’ cap with much panache as its ceative director Frida Giannini joined hands with author and illustrator Michael Roberts. Occasion? To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF. So, we will finally get to see a much deserved sequel to Roberts’ highly successful children’s book, ‘Snowman in Paradise’, which was released in 2004. The new book will be called ‘Snowman in Africa’ and will be available exclusively at Gucci stores only till the year end (please read December 31). All the proceeds from the sales will go to UNICEF.

Apart from the book, Giannini has alo given a lot of thought in designing some exclusive Gucci accessories that have all been inspired by Roberts’ wonderful book. You can choose from two medium sized Gucci Joy Handbags, symbolic charms, wrist wallet as well as a coin purse. A quarter of the profits from these too will be donated to UNICEF.
By the way, we are eagerly waiting to read the book. Until then, we have satiated our zest for the Snowman, who God-knows will be doing what in Africa, by getting one of these real magical Joy Handbags we told you about. It’s wonderful to see a splash of color on the signature Gucci brown. Go shop for a good cause!

Via Gucci

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