Vintage Books

"If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em!" — John Waters

Don't be fooled — this isn't a summer reading list. Instead, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite vintage books from my collection. Over the years, I've obtained tons of books (apologies to anyone who has ever helped me move) as gifts, as impulse buys, out of pure want. I love books. And I love the quirky old ones that have found their ways into my home even more.




First, there's this Pocket Guide to Science. I can't remember how I came across this little field guide. Some of the pages are crumbling, so it sits safely on a shelf as to avoid gaining extra wear. This is the sixth edition of this book and was printed in 1931. It's great — each topic is broken down in question form. I mean, heck. What are eyelashes for?


I'm eternally fascinated by this book's cover. I bought this for one dollar at some weird hoarder's house/antique shop in the middle of nowhere Ohio. It's the first edition of The Crime Book of JG Reeder, published in 1931.


One of my old Urban Outfitters coworkers gave me this book as a birthday gift — Laugh, Clown, Cry: The Story of Charlie Chaplin. I don't think my love of Chaplin is any secret, so this 1970s hardcover was an awesome present and addition to my collection.


And this is another that I don't recall how it came into my possession. My First Golden Encyclopedia has some amazing 1960s illustrations and colorful pages that remind me of the books I loved as a kid.

Tell me about your favorite books in the comments!