Luxist

Reach the Beach: Luxury Resort Style in the Turks & Caicos Islands {Exclusive Feature}

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for a high-res image gallery

The Turks and Caicos islands in the British West Indies is well known for having the world's most beautiful beaches. It also has some of the world's most stylish and luxurious beach resorts, which are remarkable for their amazingly private settings and lush natural landscapes, far removed from the over-development that plagues some other Caribbean hotspots. The perfect setting for our latest style feature, we're sure you'll agree.

Parrot Cay, located on a pristine 1,000-acre private island, including a mile-long powdered beach, is an elegant combination of glorious nature, understated luxury and unparalleled privacy complete with an award-winning holistic spa, healthy gourmet cuisine and beach villas with private pools (above).

The villas are a favorite with celebrities including Donna Karan, Bruce Willis, Keith Richards and Sir Paul McCartney. Some like Willis and Karan were so entranced they decided to build their own beach houses on the island. Want to own one? So do we. Parrot Cay is currently offering a small selection of villas for private ownership, starting at $10 million.

Continue reading Reach the Beach: Luxury Resort Style in the Turks & Caicos Islands {Exclusive Feature}

Reach the Beach: Luxury Resort Style in the Turks & Caicos Islands {Exclusive Feature} originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: Early Spring Style Starring the Volvo S60

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

The new Volvo S60 R-Design, the marque's sportiest model ever, serves as the inspiration for The Classicist's latest installment of seasonal style (see the late winter edition here).

As previewed by our brethren at Autoblog at the Paris Auto Show, the S60 R-Design amps up what Volvo had already declared to be its first "naughty" model; ask anyone who knows us - we've always had a soft spot for naughty models. The car's snappy 300-horsepower 3.0-liter inline turbo six remains unchanged, but the R-Design designation adds some styling upgrades that give it an aptly more aggressive stance.

Continue reading The Classicist: Early Spring Style Starring the Volvo S60

The Classicist: Early Spring Style Starring the Volvo S60 originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The World's Top Luxury Toys for Men

Jared Paul Stern — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Books, Wealth

What are the world's top luxury toys for men? Uber-luxe German publisher teNeues has the answer with its newest super-sized volume, Luxury Toys: For Men. The awesome Aston Martin One-77, so named because of its limited 77-example run and $1.7 million pricetag, appears on the cover.

Other supercars that make the cut, including the Audi R8 GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Jaguar XKR Special Edition, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, and Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Quite the garage.

Covering transportation, style, accessories and dream vacations, the massive 220-page volume features 138 giant full-color photographs and text in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian. Not based merely on price, the selections show how "emotion and finesse can be combined with spectacular aesthetic purity."

Continue reading The World's Top Luxury Toys for Men

The World's Top Luxury Toys for Men originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Best of Architecture Meets Interior Design in 'America's Finest Rooms'

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Books, Architecture & Design

Refinement is not about expense, notes Thomas Jayne in his new book "The Finest Rooms in America," a definitive, luxuriously illustrated record of the country's best interior design from the 18th century to the present day. Jayne, a top-drawer interior designer and scholar of American decor, includes a complete cross section of rooms covering a broad range of American periods and styles, beginning with the Tea Room at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

Continue reading The Best of Architecture Meets Interior Design in 'America's Finest Rooms'

The Best of Architecture Meets Interior Design in 'America's Finest Rooms' originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Savvy a Traveler are You? Take the Condé Nast Test and See

Bobbie Leigh — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books

"The Conde Nast Traveler Where Are You?" is a coffee-table extravaganza based on the travel magazine's monthly contest.

Readers in every issue since 1993 are challenged to identify a secret international location. Each page is a puzzle ranging from desolate deserts and scintillating cities to architectural icons and undersea wonders shot from a glass-bottom boat.

There are no dead giveaways.

The clues are there for those with good visual memories who have been around the world more than once. And for those who haven't, you can still test your travel savvy.

One invitation to figure out where a photo of an earth and stone structure was shot begins like this: "You are looking into a spiral pit, one of a series dug into the ground by a pre-Christian civilization." Another begins: "You are standing in a former watchtower...surveying a town that has looked this way for five hundred years."

You won't have to wait a month to get the answers as in the travel magazine's "Where are you?" page as they are listed in the back of the book ($65).

How Savvy a Traveler are You? Take the Condé Nast Test and See originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fifty Years of Equestrian Champions from the Stables of His Highness the Aga Khan

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sports, Books, Wealth

A new lavishly illustrated volume by Philip Jodidio from Prestel highlights fifty years of the prestigious horse racing and breeding enterprises of His Highness the Aga Khan, the immensely wealthy Muslim spiritual leader. The urbane Aga Khan, a philanthropist, Harvard graduate and stepson of Hollywood bombshell Rita Hayworth, built his world class thoroughbred empire on a legacy handed down through generations and now oversees one of the largest and most successful racing and breeding operations in Europe. The luxe book traces the history of the Aga Khan Studs including many famous champions through remarkable photographs, engravings and paintings taken from the Aga Khan's archives. Also included is a lengthy interview with His Highness and informative essays on what makes a great racehorse. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: The Horses of the Aga Khan

Fifty Years of Equestrian Champions from the Stables of His Highness the Aga Khan originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luxist Giveaway: Travel + Leisure's 100 Greatest Trips Book

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books

If you are planning your spring and summer travel, we've got a great book for you, the fifth edition of Travel + Leisure's 100 Greatest Trips book. This annual enterprise compiled by the editors of Travel + Leisure, is a compendium of 100 getaways to destinations around the world. The book is stuffed with more than 350 pictures from the magazine's photographers as well as mini-guides to each destination with insider tips on hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops, nightlife, and must-see spots.

The 100 featured trips cover a range of destinations and themes including culinary tours in Italy, Hong Kong, California, and New Zealand; shopping expeditions in Paris, Kyoto, New York City, and Marrakesh; beach escapes in Belize, the Bahamas, Zanzibar, and Maine and arts and culture trips in Barcelona, Beijing, Las Vegas, and Lisbon. It's like having a stack of fantastic travel magazines all in one book; it just begs for a quiet weekend afternoon, a cup of warm tea and time to curl up in a chair and dream away.

The book is available now in hardcover for $34.95 at www.TravelandLeisure.com/books and in softcover for $19.95 but we've got one hard copy to give away here on the site to a commenter chosen at random.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before March 15, 2011 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing to receive Travel + Leisure's 100 Greatest Trips, 2011 edition with a retail price of $34.95.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See complete giveaway rules here.

Luxist Giveaway: Travel + Leisure's 100 Greatest Trips Book originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go Sideways With Author Rex Pickett In Santa Ynez

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:01:00 EST

Filed under: Wine, Books

Novelist Rex Pickett just might have the best book tour ever. The author who brought us Sideways, leading to a popular movie and an epic Merlot kerfuffle, is back with a new novel, Vertical. Vertical brings us the same characters, schlubby and charmingly wine-obsessed Miles and vain but endearing Jack on a new adventure. The fortunes of both the author and his characters have changed quite a bit in the intervening years and the book is a rollicking read.

Of course there's plenty of wine involved and so Pickett has been making the rounds of both book stores and wineries. This coming weekend he's up in Oregon and future events take him to Los Angeles, New York and even London. But for the real Sideways style experience you might want to join Pickett in Santa Ynez, California at Gainey Vineyard on Friday, April 15. The event takes place between 5:30 - 8:30 pm and there is no charge. Wine will be available for sale by the glass and books will be available for purchase.

As long as you are there, why not make a weekend of it. The Sideways wine trail page has great suggestions for places to visit that are connected to the book and movie.

Go Sideways With Author Rex Pickett In Santa Ynez originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: Thomas Pink Celebrates Englishmen in New York

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Events, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

LVMH-owned London shirtmaker and haberdasher Thomas Pink is celebrating a stylish forthcoming book called An Englishman In New York with an event and exhibit at its Madison Avenue flagship in New York on March 24. The volume of photographs by Jason Bell includes notables and notable dandies like Vogue's Hamish Bowles (above), Barneys' Simon Doonan and Sting, British to the core but also quintessential New Yorkers. Bell's photographs are currently on exhibit at at London's National Portrait Gallery, where the book has already been released; it's scheduled for publication here on April 1.

As an Englishman living in New York himself, Bell was inspired by the fact that there are 120,000 British men and women living in New York City - about the same amount as the entire population of Stamford, Connecticut. In addition to the above Bell photographed a diverse cross-section of British born figures, including taxi drivers, cops, construction workers, divers, helicopter pilots, chefs, burlesque dancers, drug dealers, UN ambassadors and dog walkers, all of whom tell stories about how they came to settle in New York.

"I went for a walk in Central Park with Sting, and for a cup of tea on Kate Winslet's roof terrace, sat on Zoë Heller's stoop and watched Stephen Daldry bicycle down 8th Avenue," Bell relates. "I was given a private tour of both the Metropolitan Museum and the Barneys' shop windows. I started with a blank canvas and was amazed by the number of Englishmen and women who have made such a large impact on the cultural life of the city. And amidst all the questions about why people had come here and what they had left behind, I learnt a little bit more about what it means to be English, what it means to be a New Yorker, and where the two intersect."

"We are extremely excited to be hosting an event to honour Jason and his brilliant work," says Jonathan Heilbron, President and CEO of Thomas Pink. "Thomas Pink itself is 'An Englishman in New York.' We opened our Madison Avenue Flagship store over 13 years ago and New York has come to be a second home and major market for our brand. Thomas Pink is English at heart but we are truly a New Yorker too." [cont'd]

Gallery: An Englishman in New York by Jason Bell

Continue reading The Classicist: Thomas Pink Celebrates Englishmen in New York

The Classicist: Thomas Pink Celebrates Englishmen in New York originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The "Astor-Aubéry de Frawenberg" Hours Up For Auction

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Books

The "Astor-Aubéry de Frawenberg" Hours, a beautiful Book of Hours dating back to the 1500s goes up for auction at the Heritage Rare Books Auction on April 7. A Book of Hours is a medieval devotional book. These illuminated manuscripts are often illustrated and decorated with gold detail and are incredibly ornate and beautiful, many are in museums and libarary collections.

It is believed that this one was made for a nobleman of Toul, in eastern France, circa 1500-1520. It is bound in red velvet and was later encased in seventeenth-century decorated silver gilt covers with royal arms designed for the manuscript, and intricate designs of birds, vases, sphinxes and more. Inside the manuscript contain 19 large miniatures, four full-page miniatures, and 28 small miniatures with pure gold details by by the Parisian workshops of Jean Pichore and Jean Poyet.

The book was possibly crafted for someone in the Aubéry de Frawenberg family and the beautiful binding was added to the manuscript later. Sometime before 1884, American ambassador to Rome and the wealthiest man in America at the time, Viscount William Waldorf Astor bought it for the what was then a huge amount, £420. The manuscript is believed to be connected with Toul, a town in Eastern France because the calendar names of two Toul feasts are featured in gold and the Cathedral of Toul is in the background. of one of the miniatures. It is estimated to sell for at least $325,000.

Gallery: The "Astor-Aubéry de Frawenberg" Hours

The "Astor-Aubéry de Frawenberg" Hours Up For Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare Fibonacci Manuscript Goes Up For Auction

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Books

A rare manuscript offered by Bonhams in their June 22, 2011 auction of Fine Books and Manuscripts is one of the cornerstones of modern mathematic thinking. Up for sale is a lot featuring a rare 15th century manuscript that includes key pieces of the ground breaking mathematical work, Liber Abaci or Book of Calculation by Fibonacci. Fibonacci is credited with bringing the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to the western world. and lends his name to the Fibonacci Sequence where each successive number is the sum of the two preceding numbers.

Within the text of the Liber Abaci, Fibonacci explains the benefits of Arabic numerals and the symbol for zero by applying them to the practical world of book-keeping, weights and measures, and trade. By appealing to tradesmen and academics he eventually convinced the public to adapt the system paving the way for modern mathematical equations, sequences used in computer programming and financial markets. The manuscript on offer contains the complete text of the section of Liber Abaci known as Flos or "The Flower," which is the most advanced sections of Liber Abaci, dealing with calculus, and geometrical and algebraic methods for solving quadratic equations. The book first appeared in 1202, in manuscript form, and only 12 copies of the manuscript from the 13th through the 15th centuries have been traced in European libraries, many of them in the Vatican.

Continue reading Rare Fibonacci Manuscript Goes Up For Auction

Rare Fibonacci Manuscript Goes Up For Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Life & Work of the Late Herb Ritts

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Art, Books

Madonna, Julia Roberts, Michele Pfeiffer, Kim Basinger, Richard Gere, Cindy Crawford - all of them owe their fame in some measure to the late Herb Ritts, the renowned photographer whose portraits for the likes of Vanity Fair, Vogue and various fashion houses in the '80s and '90s helped turn many of his subjects into icons. A new book by Charles Churchward, Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour, is a lavish scrapbook / oral history looking at both Ritts' life, legacy and work. Along with some of the well known celebrity and supermodel poses the book's 200 images include intimate portraits, images of extravagant Hollywood parties, travels to exotic locales, and other unforgettable moments from an extraordinary career, many from Ritts' personal archive and previously unpublished. Richard Gere provides an introduction and there are scores of interviews from Ritts' friends including Annie Leibovitz, Elton John, kd lang, Helena Christensen, L'Wren Scott and more.

The Life & Work of the Late Herb Ritts originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Art, Style & Culture: Paris Between the Wars

Jared Paul Stern — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Art, Books

A brilliant new book, Paris Between the Wars, 1919-1939: Art, Life & Culture by Vincent Bouvet and Gérard Durozoi from The Vendome Press explores the myriad cultural forces which collided in the City of Light during the two decades between World Wars I and II. Over those 20 years artists and intellectuals flocked to Paris from around the world, resulting in a crucible of creativity that wrought great achievements in fashion, graphic design, architecture, literature, fine arts, theater and more. Illustrated with hundreds of paintings, drawings, archival photographs, advertising posters, film stills, and plans, the book travels between the bohemian charms of Montparnasse, which attracted artists such as Picasso, Chagall, and Giacometti, and the vibrant café culture which provided a forum and hunting ground for Dadaists, Surrealists and expatriate writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald.

Gallery: Paris Between the Wars

Art, Style & Culture: Paris Between the Wars originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: Seeing Out the Season in Style with the Mercedes-Benz G550

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

While in some parts of the country spring may already have sprung, here on the Eastern Seaboard we're still months away from cherry blossoms and G&Ts. In some ways this is the toughest time of the year - we're worn down from a long winter, yet the snow keeps falling - and it requires some tough gear to get through it in style. A key comfort of course is a vehicle that can not only handle the elements but keep them firmly in their place, while keeping you warm, dry and wrapped in luxurious refinement. We've yet to experience anything that can turn the worst ice storm of the year into a minor inconvenience with as much impressive panache as the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Not everyone loves its spartan exterior and sheer tonnage - just shutting the doors requires serious effort - but they're usually the same people who "swear by" their tin can minivans; we saw them stranded on the side of the road as we cruised by in the G550 on our most recent Geländewagen excursion.

Meticulously handcrafted inside and out at a special manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria, the military-derived G-Wagen is the progenitor of every Mercedes-Benz SUV on the road today. Essentially unchanged aside from certain key upgrades since it was first introduced over 30 years ago, it's done everything from winning the famous Paris-Dakar Rally to making sure the Pope gets to his appointments on time. With a starting sticker of $105,000 it's definitely something of an indulgence, but that helps maintain a certain exclusivity which is not without an appeal of its own. Only a few thousand models are sold here every year so you don't often see another one en route; while that means a certain amount of stares directed your way, unless you get one custom-painted bright red - it's only offered in an understated palette of black, grey, silver, white and dark green - those tend to be minimal as it's about as subtle as an SUV this size can get.

To help see out the season in style we have assembled a number of items which complement the G-Wagen's rugged good looks and provide essential assistance before, during and after the journey. For starters we selected a lightweight, trim-fitting down bomber jacket by Ralph Lauren Black Label (above left), made of supple goat suede with a leather throat latch and gunmetal hardware. The most stylish weather defender we've seen all season, it's the G-Wagen of outerwear. On the wrist we sported the new limited edition Breitling Transocean Chronograph (above right), a high-performance, shock-resistant, and damned good-looking watch on a mesh steel strap, while waxed canvas hunting boots from L.L. Bean Signature kept our feet warm and dry.

Gallery: G550 Style

Continue reading The Classicist: Seeing Out the Season in Style with the Mercedes-Benz G550

The Classicist: Seeing Out the Season in Style with the Mercedes-Benz G550 originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Books From Thomas Jefferson's Personal Library Rediscovered

Deidre Woollard — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Books

A long-sought group of books from Thomas Jefferson's personal library have been found. Washington University in St. Louis announced earlier this week that 74 books in its rare books collection were once part of Thomas Jefferson's personal library. The books were among about 3,000 that were donated to the school in 1880 after the death of Jefferson's granddaughter, Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, and her husband, Joseph Coolidge. The discovery makes Washington University's archive the third-largest collection of Jefferson's books, after the Library of Congress and the University of Virginia.

Jefferson was an avid reader and a fervent notetaker. The copy of Plutarch's Lives in Greek shown above contains a scrap of paper with Greek notes scholars say were written by Thomas Jefferson. Some of the books contain his notes in the margins.

Continue reading Books From Thomas Jefferson's Personal Library Rediscovered

Books From Thomas Jefferson's Personal Library Rediscovered originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unknown Enid Blyton Story Found In Archives

Deidre Woollard — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Books

Before there was J.K. Rowling there was Enid Blyton, a prolific English writer of children's stories that delighted generations of young readers. Writing across fantasy, mystery and adventure genres, she penned nearly 800 books which have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 500 million copies worldwide.

Back in September, the Seven Stories children's book center in Newcastle, England paid around £40,000 for a collection of manuscripts. The books included Malory Towers and Secret Seven books which have already been published as well as a manuscript for Mr Tumpy's Caravan, an 180-page fantasy story. There is in existence an Enid Blyton book called Mr. Tumpy and His Caravan but that is a picture book. This manuscript is a different story, telling the adventures of a magical caravan with feet and mind of its own.

Imogen Smallwood, Blyton's youngest daughter confirmed to BBC News that it is a whole book about a different Mr Tumpy and a different caravan.

Seven Stories has a mission to save and celebrate great British children's works and plans to hold an Enid Blyton exhibition in 2014. The charity cannot publish the newly-discovered work, because Blyton's publisher Chorion retains the rights to all of her works.

Unknown Enid Blyton Story Found In Archives originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare Book Set On Egypt Crowns Christie's Sale In Paris

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Books

It was one of the most ambitious projects the world had ever seen. After taking command of the Egyptian campaign around the turn of the 19th century, Napoleon gathered a staff of France's top scientists, artists, explorers and others to undertake a concept like no other, a complete and comprehensive survey of the country's monuments, plants, animals and more. The result was the Description de l'Egypte, a multi-volume set which began in 1803 but wasn't completed until 1830.

Christie's has announced the sale of the Michel Wittock Collection, Part IV, which will be held in Paris on May 11 which will include an exceptional copy of the Description de l'Egypte, bound by Jean-Joseph Tessier in polished and richly decorated calfskin. The 23 volumes in their original mahogany display case are expected to sell for €500,000 to €700,000. This is the first edition of the publication and is printed on woven paper with handcolored ornithological plates. The final work included more than 900 engraved plates. This copy was bound by the Parisian binder Jean-Joseph Tessier using tools specifically cut for the project. This particular copy belonged to Jean-Joseph Courvoisier (1775-1835) who was appointed the minister of justice in 1829 and received this set as a gift commemorating that occasion.

Continue reading Rare Book Set On Egypt Crowns Christie's Sale In Paris

Rare Book Set On Egypt Crowns Christie's Sale In Paris originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James Bond's New Bentley

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:01:00 EST

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Books

It may be a while before everyone's favorite spy is back on the silver screen, but fortunately for Bond fans, there's a new series of books to keep our interests piqued. But while 007 drives an Aston Martin in the latest movies, in the books (old and new) Bentley is his ride of choice.

The latest book Carte Blanche is set to launch in the UK on May 26, but its author Jeffery Deaver recently stopped by its setting in Dubai to check out the new Bentley Continental GT in white over red which Bond drives in the book. Not a subtle choice, to be sure, but neither is Dubai. See for yourself in the image gallery below.

Gallery: Jeffrery Deaver & the Bentley Continental GT

James Bond's New Bentley originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luxist Giveaway: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2011

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Books

Calling all cruisers, this is your giveaway. Berlitz gave us a couple of copies of its massive tome, the 2011 edition of Cruising and Cruise Ships, to give away to two readers chosen at random. This indispensable guide to all this cruise is now in its 26th year of publication. The book is written by cruise-guru, Douglas Ward, who spent 17 years working in the cruise industry before becoming a cruise reviewer. The website for this book states that Ward has logged in over 5,600 days at sea, participating in more than 1,000 cruises, 155 transatlantic crossings and plenty of shipyard visits and maiden voyages.

The book reviews 285 cruise ships and also offer at-a-glance charts compare the major cruise lines for cabin facilities, food and service. The book doesn't just review the ships, the first few sections are devoted to broader issues designed to narrow down what you might be looking for. There is advice on cruising with families, cruising for seniors, nature cruises, river cruises and more. Every conceivable angle of traveling via cruise ship is covered from etiquette to safety concerns and whether or not you can cringe your golf clubs or check email while cruising. Ward is also an incredible compendium of cruise facts. He goes into the history of the various cruise lines and also delivers behind-the-scenes details of the logistics of running a large cruise ship. His knowledge both as an avid cruiser and as a former cruise ship professional gives him a unique point of view.

Continue reading Luxist Giveaway: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2011

Luxist Giveaway: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2011 originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luxist Giveaway: Pinhole Press 13-Photo Day Planner

Rigel Celeste — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Art, Books

Pinhole Press is an online boutique that lets you create and personalize beautiful, inspirational photo gifts. Created as a collaboration between paper giant Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. and high design firm Rosebrook | Peters | Funaro it offers more than 150 stylish products that are easily customized with your personal photographs and memories. The holidays are over and we just started a new year so this is the perfect time to go through those stacks of family photos and maxed out memory discs and create lasting and meaningful gifts for yourself and your loved ones. PinholePress.com offers countless possibilities including greeting cards, calendars, framed photos, "Brag books", and day planners. There's quite literally something for everyone.

And speaking of day planners who couldn't use one right about now to keep those pesky New Year's resolutions on track and make the rest of winter bearable by planning out your summer vacation? One lucky Luxist reader will get to do just that as Pinhole Press is giving away one of their luxurious 8x10" 13-Photo Large Day Planners, available in your choice of four colors and featuring your own personal photographs inside and on the cover, as well as personalized text on the cover and interior title page. Worth $78.99 it's bound to be the best and most sentimental day planner you've ever owned.

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before February 14, 2011 at 5:00pm Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing and notified by email.
* One winner will receive a Large Day Planner from PinholePress.com, a prize worth $78.99.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See full giveaway rules here.

Luxist Giveaway: Pinhole Press 13-Photo Day Planner originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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