Books
Archiva Books
993 Lexington Ave., nr. 72nd St.; 212-570-9565; archiviabooks.comThe second incarnation of this well-regarded shop carries more than 3,000 titles on design, architecture, fine art, and gardening. $$-$$$
Assouline
In the Plaza Hotel, 768 Fifth Ave., nr. 58th St., mezzanine level; 212-593-7236; assouline.comDeep, towering shelves of coffee-table books fill out this opulent Plaza Hotel boutique. Look for tomes on style icons, such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, and browse the strong design and architecture sections for luxurious monographs on greats like Charles and Ray Eames and Le Corbusier. This is Assouline’s only boutique that offers custom leather book-binding. $$-$$$
Bauman Rare Books
535 Madison Ave. nr. 54th St.; 212-751-0011; baumanrarebooks.comThe owners’ love of collecting informs the atmosphere of the store, which carries an unparalleled array of first editions and inscribed volumes from the fifteenth through twentieth centuries. The highly trained staff knows how to keep serious collectors happy. $$$$
Clic Bookstore & Gallery
255 Centre St., at Broome St.; 212-966-2766; clicgallery.comThe gallery portion of the store displays rotating monthly photography exhibits, ranging from New York–street style to conceptual posed portraits. The book selection includes colorful coffee-table tomes comprising portraits, landscapes, and voyeuristic paparazzi shots. $$-$$$$
Complete Traveller Antiquarian Bookstore
199 Madison Ave., at 35th St.; 212-685-9007; ctrarebooks.comThis bookstore has a stunning collection of history and geography titles, including a notable section of rare books on New York City and one of the country’s largest selections of out-of-print Baedeker travel guides. Don’t miss the vintage maps. $$-$$$$
Dashwood Books
33 Bond St., nr. Lafayette St.; 212-387-8520; duxiana.comDashwood Books is devoted almost exclusively to contemporary photography, including a particularly impressive international selection from Japan and Europe. Books are organized by country (Korea, the Netherlands, and Germany) and subject (sports, media, architecture, war, and fashion). $$
Design Books
1 University Pl., nr. Waverly Pl.; 212-677-3985; washingtonsquarebooks.comFind rare and out-of-print titles, plus books on design, architecture, and the decorative arts. The shop specializes in books on the arts of China and Japan, modern design, and fine typography. $$$-$$$$ (by appointment only)
Gagosian Shop
gagosian.comA Pop Art boutique and bookstore from arguably the most powerful art dealer in the world, Gagosian Shop sells a small selection of furniture and art pieces for the home, while the real focus here is art books and monographs. $$-$$$
Open Air Modern
489 Lorimer St., nr. Powers St., Williamsburg; 718-383-6465; openairmodern.comThis trove of rare and used art, photography, and design books is carefully selected by the owner. Mid-century lamps and Scandinavian chairs create a living-room-like setting for browsing. And like the books, the furnishings are also for sale. $-$$
Pageant Print Shop
69 E. 4th St., nr. Bowery; 212-674-5296; pageantbooks.comThis tiny shop doesn’t carry books, but it has a vast stash of old maps, prints, and advertisements. Prices run the gamut, from $1 postcard-size prints to framed New York maps from the 1800s for around $750. $$
Potterton Books
979 Third Ave., nr. 59th St., first fl.; 212-644-2292; pottertonbooksusa.comThis London-based seller of design and art books boasts a wealth of rare and out-of-print materials. Subjects include architecture, interior design, and landscape gardening. $$$
Prattstore
550 Myrtle Ave., nr. Emerson Pl., Clinton Hill; 718-789-1105; prattstore.netThe bookstore of the famous Pratt Institute sells everything from colorful pens to high-tech design software, and unsurprisingly, there’s an impressive selection of art textbooks to pick from. $$
Printed Matter
195 Tenth Ave., nr. 22nd St.; 212-925-0325; printedmatter.orgThis nonprofit, headquartered in Chelsea, is dedicated to promoting the book as an art medium. It maintains a retail operation with over 15,000 titles and hosts book launches and events for artists like Yoko Ono, Tom Sachs, and Sonic Youth. $$-$$$ (made in N.Y.)
Rizzoli Bookstore
31 W. 57th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-759-2424; rizzolibookstore.comThis swanky Italian bookstore is for art and design lovers who covet big, glossy coffee-table tomes, classical-music recordings, and foreign literature. $$-$$$
Taschen
107 Greene St., nr. Prince St.; 212-226-2212; taschen.comAesthetes flock to this coffee-table book mecca for arty-edgy titles like The Big Book of Breasts. The selection also boasts monographs from contemporary artists like David LaChapelle and pocket-size guides on subjects like vintage cars. $$-$$$
Zakka
1155 Plymouth St., nr. Jay St., Dumbo; 718-801-8037; zakkacorp.comDelight in the expansive array of Japanese toys, magazines, and giftable accessories. There’s also a huge selection of books, neatly separated into categories like architecture design, media, illustration, and Japanese culture. $$
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