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Published at 1:09pm
Published at 12:53pm
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A former lecturer at the New School with a Ph.D. in English language and literature, Christopher Voigt spends every spare minute between his freelance copywriting gigs digging through the city’s multitude of bookstores. For more than 15 years, he’s been amassing a collection of about 15,000 tomes, which he regularly augments with finds from secondhand shops, bibliophile boutiques and even big-box chains.
“A book is an essential wardrobe component. Sometimes I reach for an old paperback the way I reach for a vintage Saint Laurent necktie.”
—Christopher Voigt, former New School lecturer
Barnes & Noble
Chain stores aren’t entirely evil: Voigt points out that B&N gives both novice and lifelong collectors access to any literary work that has an ISBN. While the Astor Place and Chelsea branches have closed, the Union Square location is one of Voigt’s favorites for its standout philosophy section. Feeling as lonely as Nietzsche? Voigt recommends attending the store’s weekly readings.
33 E 17th St between Broadway and Park Ave South (212-253-0810, bn.com)
Three Lives & Company
A cozy spot with creaky wood floors and a bright-red door, Three Lives is cherished by Voigt for its selection of new lit and nonfiction titles, as well as for its expert employees. “The smaller the bookstore, the smarter the staff,” says Voigt, who advocates the West Village nook for budding, clueless readers looking to take a chance on a new author or delve into less trendy niches.
154 W 10th St at Waverly Pl (212-741-2069, threelives.com)
Twelfth Street Books
Voigt regularly scans Twelfth Street’s seemingly endless aisles for cheap used finds, out-of-print goods and rare first editions, curated by some of the city’s most knowledgeable buyers. And unlike other used-book outlets, this trove boasts frequent turnover—and a space that’s free of the musky smell of aged pages.
11 E 12th St between Fifth Ave and University Pl (212-645-4340, abebooks.com/home/12thstbooks)
Argosy
Anything print- or paper-related is on display here: autographs, maps, posters, bookplates, illustrations and decades-old literary works. Voigt also likes to explore this old-school, family-owned operation for unusual presents, such as marbled endpaper ($3 per sheet), and to gawk at its collectibles, including a check signed by Clark Gable.
116 E 59th St between Park and Lexington Aves (212-753-4455, argosybooks.com)
Strand Bookstore
In addition to functional tote bags, the famous 18-miles-of-books emporium also offers great deals. For the best bargains, Voigt heads to the nonfiction browsing tables near the entrance (just past the required bag check) and stops in the basement to find review copies of current releases at more than 50 percent off.
828 Broadway at 12th St (212-473-1452, strandbooks.com)
joyce feldman
Wed, Apr 09, at 06:59pm
You missed a hidden gem of a bookstore called "Mercer Street Books" @ 206 Mercer St. @Bleecker St. Check it out !!
