Category Archives: Vintage Books
5.17.2010
Contraband of War
Detailing the remarkable journey of William Henry Singleton, Contraband of War tells the story of Singleton’s life and upbringing. Born into slavery and later escaping, Singleton’s story paints an accurate portrayal of African American life in the 1800’s. Told from the perspective of Singleton, the book provides a glimpse into the life of Singleton, allowing readers to empathize with his experiences, while relating the plight of slavery.
Excerpt from the Book:
“William Henry Singleton (1834-1938) was born a slave in New Bern, North Carolina. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, he ran away from the Singleton plantations and became the ...
5.10.2010
Candid Little Rock
In the 80’s, people were out, and people were living. No matter where you were at, or what you were doing, whether in Hollywood, California, or Little Rock, Arkansas it seemed as though folks were out and living for the moment. Compiling a collection of iconic black and white photographs, six photographers set out to capture the essence of Little Rock, Arkansas through the people that inhabited the city. Shooting everything from architecture and design, to police men and civilians, Candid Little Rock honestly portrays Arkansas living in the 80’s.
Exerpt from the Preface:
August House compiled a book of black-and-white ...
5.3.2010
Pop Art: Movements of Modern Art
Rising to prominence in the mid 50’s in Britain and the late 50’s in the United States, Pop Art emerged as a cultural movement geared towards the celebration of art and popular culture. Challenging traditional concepts of elitist art, Pop Art redefined the concept of “high art” by juxtaposing popular artifacts of mass media to redefine and reconsider their meaning and purpose. Michael Compton’s Pop Art chronicles the development of the movement, highlighting the work of popular artists from the time. Full of rare images and insight, Pop Art is a history lesson and a dose of inspiration rolled into ...
4.26.2010
Memphis: Objects, Furniture, and Patterns
The Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture movement of the 1980s, more specifically a group composed of Italian designers and architects who created a series of products in 1981. Named after the Bob Dylan song Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, the movement was a reaction against the post-Bauhaus “black box” designs of the 1970s and had a sense of humor that was lacking at the time in design.
They disagreed with the approach of the time and challenged the idea that products had to follow conventional shapes and colours and textures and patterns. It was conceived by the group to be a ...
4.19.2010
Keith Haring: Future Primeval
A collection of various works, this book aims to capture the spirit of Keith Haring’s art, from his quick-draw graffiti art on black paper covering unsold advertising spaces in New York subways, to his large-scale canvases/murals and decorative and pop art output. Contributors to the text include William Burroughs and Timothy Leary.
$20, phone orders available. Call the shop at (323) 651-0131.
4.12.2010
Inside Racquetball
Perfect for summer, this book is a great illustrative step-by-step guide on how to kill it in racquetball, the 70’s way. You’ll be pro in no time. Just look at those outfits!
Excerpt from preface:
“In Inside Racquetball, the official guide to the sport, Chuck Leve, executive secretary of the International Racquetball Association, discusses the winning techniques of such national champions as Charlie Brumfield, Bill Schmidtke, Craig Finger, Ron Rubenstein, Steve Keeley, and Paul Lawrence. His instructions on the type of racquet and ball to use, the proper grip and stroke, serves and serve returns, and offensive and defensive shots all presented ...
4.12.2010
Reserve LA Spotlight: Screw Magazine
To coincide with the release of Freshjive’s Spring 2010 collaboration t-shirt with Screw Magazine, Reserve has stocked a limited amount of vintage issues of Screw, as well as a special edition Screw Magazine vintage wristwatch.
Screw is a weekly pornographic magazine aimed at heterosexual men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1968 by Al Goldstein as a response to a burgeoning sexual revolution and to the supposedly air-brushed soft-pedaled sexuality in magazines such as Playboy.
Available in-store only, phone orders accepted. Call the shop at (323) 651-0131, or visit us at:
Reserve
420 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
4.5.2010
Grateful Dead Family Album
Drugs, drugs, and more drugs. One of the finer and large tomes of the Dead, the greatest touring band ever. Rare photos, concert dates, orgies, more drugs, rock, San Francisco birthing the 60’s movement… it’s all here. This book has rare photos and quotes given by the band members and other friends and musicians, spanning from their Haight & Ashbury era, the Kool Aid Acid Tests, throughout the 70’s and 80’s, and the early 90’s.
Excerpt from preface:
“’The more things change the more they remain the same.’
How fitting when applied to the Grateful Dead and the ...
3.29.2010
Eros Vol. 1, Number 3
In 1962, American author, editor, publisher and photo-journalist Ralph Ginzburg began publication of his first major work, Eros, which was a quarterly hardbound periodical containing articles and photo-essays on love and sex. Herb Lubalin was the art director and second on the masthead. Only four issues of Eros were published, largely because Ginzburg was indicted under federal obscenity laws for the fourth issue.
Issue no. 3 was centered on an 18-page photo shoot of the recently deceased Marilyn Monroe (the pictures were taken by Bert Stern six weeks before her passing). It also features ...
3.25.2010
American Poster ‘63
A great book documenting all types American advertisement and poster design, (and all for American companies). What’s interesting about this book is the layout of the images. They really made use of the negative space on the page by displaying posters in their original, billboard-esque format. All in all, American Poster ‘63 is recommended to anyone looking to be inspired by some true vintage Americana.
Excerpt from preface:
“Print, TV/radio and outdoor require differing techniques, but the standards of good advertising are common in all media; when these are expertly applied, great ads, commercials and posters result. It is in the preparation ...
3.22.2010
100 Years Of Bicycle Posters
Just in time for those nice Summer rides, this large beauty of a book is a great compilation of amazing bike posters. 100 years worth to be exact. Perfect for the coffee table, but if you’re trying to get creative, you can make about 50 framed posters out of this book. Released in 1973, this one is a rare 1st edition. Get it while it’s hot.
Excerpt from preface:
“This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the two machines that have had a profound influence on us. It was roughly in 1872 that color lithography, which made colorful pictorial posters possible, ...
Reserve LA Presents: NOMAG by Bruce Kalberg