The best sports watches of the 21st century, plus historical and technical comparisons of top models from leading brands like Bretling, Chronoswiss, Omega, and others. In this guide to modern sports watches, discover honest assessments of luxury sports models, many varieties of chronographs, GMTs, and extreme diving watches, represented by the best sports brands in the world, including Patek Philippe, Breitling, Omega, Chronoswiss, and more. But first, what exactly is...
A fully redeveloped edition of volume 1 of the longest produced, most in-depth Star Wars collectibles guide in print, this comprehensive collection provides identification, pricing information, and photos of the 35‑year pre‑Disney era of Star Wars collectibles and merchandise. Over the past two decades the Star Wars Super Collector’s Wish Book series has brought knowledge and joy to tens of thousands of collectors. This comprehensively updated second edition to volume 1 pr...
This love letter to everyone's favorite athletic shoe guides readers through the world of iconic sneakers, from rubber-soled record setters, to themed kicks, to shoes that became legends of pop culture. Streetwear enthusiast and sneakerhead Tonton Gibs presents a curated collection of noteworthy sneakers, including • the best-selling pair and the most-expensive pairs, • shoes that embodied special themes (holidays, food, and more), • kicks that were featured on the b...
First flown in 1982, the Boeing 757 was an impressive accomplishment. The aircraft was fast, quiet, and fuel efficient while still exhibiting stellar takeoff, climb, and landing performance. Hear firsthand accounts from the leaders of the 757 program who skillfully established an extraordinary culture within their organization. This team, empowered by the program's expert guidance, overcame the challenges of producing a new aircraft type in an environment that was fast paced ...
The Boeing 737 is undoubtedly one of the best known of all passenger aircraft and has been built in greater numbers than any other commercial aircraft in the world. There are few airline passengers of the last decade who have not yet flown on one of these aircraft. More than 10,000 examples have been built in all its variants—an unbelievably high number for an airliner. This book describes the aircraft’s early development—from the first concept drawings in the early 1960s to ...
This new edition covers a beloved era in NYC subway train and station history with 66 new images and a new chapter on car interiors. Loaded with hundreds of large, full-bleed images, this second edition expands the work's visual documentation of two key decades in New York's subway train and station history. See images of the MTA system from the 1970s through the 1990s, a period that saw an unprecedented meteoric rise in global fame for a transit system. Captured here are ...
A pictorial history of the VW Bus and all its varieties through nearly 200 photographs, with technical data and buyer's guide. In November 1949, a new epoch of automotive history began with the introduction of the first small transporter by Volkswagen. Like no other light utility vehicle before, the variety-rich space-saver from Wolfsburg has influenced the development of a new generation of functional, multipurpose minibuses. Six decades after its introduction, the “B...
The complete guide to the national parks, national monuments and memorials, military parks and battlefields, national trails, seashores, rivers and marine conservation areas, national recreation areas, national highways, preserves and reserves of the United States Since 1872, when Yellowstone became America’s inaugural national park, these protected areas have enthralled visitors from around the globe. Currently the 63 national parks attract more than 300 million visitors...
Discover the roots of country music with Vintage Country—an illustrated journey through 100+ pioneering artists, styles, and essential recordings. Vintage Country is the first illustrated book to explore the rural and urban roots of country music, tracing its evolution from early recordings and radio days to its 1940s–1950s rise, before Nashville’s dominance. Written by renowned historian Tony Russell, it profiles over 100 key artists and bands, including Jimmie Rodgers...
In Dio: The Unholy Scriptures, embark on an electrifying journey through the tumultuous yet triumphant saga of one of heavy metal’s most legendary bands: Dio. Told through gripping anecdotes and candid interviews conducted with the author over the decades, Dio: The Unholy Scriptures unveils the untold stories behind the Dio band’s timeless anthems, revealing the passion, perseverance, and sheer audacity that defined the band’s unparalleled sound and style. Formed in 198...
A rare fascinating look at the powerful forces that have shaped small towns and the rise and glory of a "lost" America. Heribert Niehues's award-winning photographs of gas stations, diners, motels, houses, and cars left behind by a shifting civilization, elicit strange fascination mixed with melancholy for a bygone era. His Hopperesque images document the rise and former glory of a legendary America. This photo essay's laser focus on the effects of American mobility se...
Photographic chronicle of the history and evolution of New York subway signage, covering porcelain, wood, tin, and mosaic signs from the 1920s to the 1980s. Foreword by renowned transit photographer and historian Douglas Grotjahn Vintage New York City Subway Signs: 1920s–1980s features over 350 historic photographs, chronicling the evolution of subway signs from the 1920s to the 1980s. Each image showcases the craftsmanship and cultural significance of these transit artifac...
The Panzerjäger Tiger (P) was a powerful tank destroyer fielded in small numbers by the Wehrmacht. As indicated by the Panzerjäger Tiger (P) name, this series of 90 vehicles was based on an early design of the Panzer VI Tiger tank, specifically the unsuccessful tank design prototype by Ferdinand Porsche. In fact, as initially fielded, the series of giant tank killers was given the name Ferdinand. After disappointing performance at Kursk, the 48 surviving Ferdinands were retur...
A coffee-table book showcasing the work of 32 bicycle builders from 13 countries, celebrating their unique designs and the stories that inspire them. Handcrafted Bicycles: Builders, Frame Design, and Inspiration celebrates the artistry of bicycle building, revealing that bicycles are so much more than a set of handlebars, a seat, a frame, wheels, a chain and pedals. Bicycles are about the builder, the rider, the ride, riders’ needs, special componentry, and aesthetics. Thi...
The first and only book on the motorcycles designed, engineered, and raced by aviation icon and renowned engineering genius Glenn H. Curtiss. Glenn H. Curtiss is one of the most important pioneers of aviation, and is considered one of the greatest engineering minds of the early 20th century. Curtiss was the chief rival of the Wright brothers in the very early days of flight. He was much more than a pilot and aircraft designer, however. The Hammondsport, New York native's ...
The Sturmgeschütz, or StuG, as it is more popularly known, while conceived as self-propelled, infantry support artillery, in time, formed the backbone of Germany’s anti-tank operations during WWII. With more than 135 war-era photos, this volume chronicles the design, development, and deployment of the first six (of nine variants) of this famed and feared weapon. The material is arranged in seven chapters, each focusing on a specific production model, or Ausführung, of the Stu...
The Panzerkampfwagen IV, or Panzer IV as it is more popularly known, formed the backbone of Germany’s tank formations during WWII. With production totaling more than 8,500, the Panzer IV was the most plentiful German tank of the war, and the only German tank that remained in production for the duration of the conflict. Through more than 180 photos, this volume chronicles the design, development, and operational deployment of this ubiquitous German tank. This material is arran...
A detailed, illustrated history of the Israeli tank force, from the early wars for independence to the streets of Gaza in 2024. This is the complete history of Israeli tanks and tankers, stretching from the First World War to the present. Included are hundreds of excellent photographs, maps, tables, and charts. Beyond all of that visual and technical information, the authors have also included a detailed narrative history of the Israeli Armored Corps and its precursor organiz...
A comprehensive look at World War II-era Fubuki class destroyers, giving readers an understanding of why and how the Imperial Japanese Navy took the lead in destroyer designThe World War II–era destroyers of the Japanese Fubuki class were the first of a type sometimes referred to as "super destroyers." These destroyers were extremely large and heavily armed with guns and torpedoes. Ironically, the IJN was pushed to create heavier destroyers by the terms of the Washington Nava...
Discover how NASA, the Smithsonian, and the aerospace community helped craft, legitimize, and popularize the beloved television show Star Trek. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry sought to create a work of science fiction that would immerse viewers not only through clever storylines and modern visual effects, but also by presenting the story in a scientific and technological context that felt believable. To this end, Roddenberry, a former WWII combat pilot, used his connec...
A detailed, highly illustrated history of the Kaman H-2, including more than 300 images. Kaman developed the Seasprite for the US Navy, specifically for shipborne operations. The type was adopted in 1962 and remained in service for more than 30 years, seeing combat both in Vietnam and during Operation Desert Storm. The Seasprite performed admirably in a wide variety of roles, including antisubmarine warfare and search and rescue. This a detailed, highly illustrated his...
For the first time, the Band's legendary Richard Manuel’s compositions and performances are analyzed with expert commentary while shining a light on his contributions to all of his bands—and on the undeniable impact he had on rock music.Richard Manuel was a fearless original. Sweetly soulful as a vocalist and endearingly creative as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he was a vital part of some of rock ’n’ roll’s pivotal moments, including Bob Dylan’s controversial move ...
The history of the carrier that launched Jimmy Doolittle's daring raid on Tokyo and saw combat at Midway and Santa CruzThe USS Hornet (CV-8), made famous through its launching of the 16 US Army B-25 Mitchell bombers flown by Jimmy Doolittle's raiders in the first US strike on Japan in May 1942, was the third and last Yorktown-class aircraft carrier completed. Serving the US Navy for just over one year, the warship had a brief yet heroic life. This book explores Hornet's const...
Does street art exist in spotless Tokyo? Yes! But strict vandalism laws and conservative Japanese culture have suppressed the graffiti scene in Tokyo. This stunning survey by photographer and graffiti artist Lord K2 takes you into the Tokyo neighborhoods exhibiting a colorful array of urban art created on the fly and as low-key as possible. Here is a look at vibrant stickers, tags, highly elaborate murals by both local and international artists, and a gallery of work by the a...
