A visit to New York

A couple of weeks back Mrs B and I spent a couple of days in New York on a Spring break. We always try to visit something a bit off the usual tourist beat. This time my better half suggested visiting the J P Morgan Library & Museum, which is a museum and research library. Completed in 1906 as the private library of the banker J. P. Morgan, the institution is housed at 225 Madison Avenue in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan.

The famed banker and philanthropist J Pierpoint Morgan was an avid collector of books, ancient illuminated manuscripts and Egyptian treasures, and amassed a world-renowned collection. The museum is a fantastic place. J P Morgan acquired three original Gutenberg bibles from the 1450s, and the collection is on display for all to see.

Gutenberg bible 1455

It’s a very eclectic collection, where pop art of the 1960s is to be found alongside the ancient totems of past cultures. Of interest to readers of this blog may be an original printing of Topps “foldees” from 1966 (remember them, when printed by A&BC in the UK?).

Also a Roy Lichtenstein painting inspired by (or perhaps plagiarized from) a comic panel drawn by Jack Abel, called “CRAK”.   Double-click the photos to read the text card next to the exhibits, which acknowledges Jack Abel and Bob Haney’s original work in the April/May 1962 issue of Star Spangled War Stories. 

I’ve also included a photo of one of the Gutenberg bibles from 1455 - white pages!  And it’s never been in a mylar bag :-) .

I heartily recommend a visit.

Earlier we visited The Mysterious Bookshop, situated in the Tribeca neighbourhood on Warren Street. It is the oldest mystery bookshop in North America, owned by the writer, editor and publisher Otto Penzler, past editor of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. An amazing place, with wooden bookshelves extending up the 15-feet walls.

When then walked a couple of miles to Katz’s Delicatessen. I had to sample their signature dish - a huge corned beef sandwich on rye. I failed to finish it.

The following day we headed over to Montclair in New Jersey for a visit to the Montclair Bookshop, pretty much unchanged since my first visit almost fifty years ago. A great place to find old SF books, or browse the vinyl LPs. 

And finally, a shot of the top of the Empire State Building, for my money still the most impressive skyscraper in New York. Of course, we all know the Doc Savage's HQ was on the 86th floor back in the 1930s.

Any recommendations for places to visit?