Collector’s Guide: Rare Bookstores

Argosy Book Store
Founded in 1925, Argosy is a third-generation family-owned business that occupies a six-floor building in Midtown Manhattan—plus a separate warehouse in Brooklyn. Its specialties include Americana, the history of science and medicine, and modern first editions, as well as old maps and prints. Compiling an at-home library? Argosy offers a Books by the Foot program, through which customers can buy stacks of tomes starting at $30.
Argosy Book Store: 116 East 59th Street, 212.753.4455

B&B Rare Books
Tucked away on the third floor of an apartment building in Gramercy Park, B&B overflows with first editions of 19th- and 20th-century literature, including a wide range of books from the Roaring ’20s and by literary expats in Paris. Another great find: a first edition of Gulliver’s Travels. B&B is also one of the city’s best resources for appraising or selling an existing rare-book collection.
B&B Rare Books: 200 East 17th Street, 646.652.6766; by appointment only

Chartwell Booksellers
In business for almost 30 years, this museum-like store specializes in all things Winston Churchill—from rare and out-of-print books written by the man to pamphlets and ephemera about him. Once you’ve had your Churchill fix, peruse Chartwell’s large collection of military, motor, baseball, and jazz books, as well as first editions of popular literary fiction and nonfiction. The shop itself is set inside a darkly lit arcade within the Park Plaza building, where glass display cases and spotlights highlight important books and photographs.
Chartwell Booksellers: 55 East 52nd Street, 212.308.0643

The Complete Traveller Antiquarian Bookstore
As the sister store to Manhattan’s Complete Traveller Bookstore, this shop near the Morgan Library specializes in rare and antique travel books. The Complete Traveller Antiquarian store has what might be the most extensive selection of travel books about New York City, as well as a treasure trove of vintage maps, WPA Guides, and books on world exploration.
The Complete Traveller Antiquarian Bookstore: 199 Madison Avenue, 212.685.9007

The Manhattan Rare Book Company
This unassuming gallery on Second Avenue in Midtown is the city’s source for rare art and photography books signed by the artists (including Matisse and Warhol), in addition to important books on art and culture. Other highlights are first editions of T.S. Eliot’s poetry and a large selection of rare books on American history and political figures. Our favorite: a first illustrated edition of Ulysses signed by both James Joyce and Henri Matisse, who did the etchings.
The Manhattan Rare Book Company: 1050 2nd Avenue, Gallery 50E, 212.326.8907; by appointment only

Pomander Books
This Upper West Side private dealer specializes in hard-to-find modern poetry and 20th-century prose and has a wide collection of out-of-print books and artwork. Check out the vintage literary magazines featuring the work of Ezra Pound, and books illustrated and written by Edward Gorey.
Pomander Books: 211 West 92nd Street, 212.749.5906; by appointment only

Ursus Books and Prints
After 23 years in the Carlyle Hotel, this shop moved in 2011 to the third floor of a building on Madison on the Upper East Side. Ursus is prized for its collection of arts, literature, natural history, landscape gardening, and fine-binding books that date to the 15th century. A visit to the rare books room feels as though you’re stepping into someone’s private study, with antique books lining tall wooden shelves and a large table in the center for reading.
Ursus Books and Prints: 699 Madison Avenue, 212.772.8787

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