Nicholas Osborn is the founder of SquareAmerica.com: “Square America is a site dedicated to preserving and displaying vintage snapshots from the first 3/4s of the 20th Century. Not only do these photographs contain a wealth of primary source information on how life was lived they also constitute a shadow history of photography, one too often ignored by museums and art galleries. Or at least that’s what I tell people- more accurately, the site is a catalog of my obsession with vintage photographs. For the last eight years or so I’ve spent countless hours digging through boxes of old snapshots at flea markets (mostly here in Chicago and in NYC) and too much money buying photos on eBay.” (read more) Follow his blog. Consider buying his book.

Previously on Skandalon

Artist’s statement: “Broadway explores New York City’s greatest avenue, traversing many social and economic demographics, it continues to define the big apple in the 21st century. Since embarking on Broadway in late 2006, and even before that, I have always been mesmerized at how life unfolds on the streets of New York. Pedestrians, cars, bicycles and anything imaginable moving in and out within mere inches of each other, even with the chaos surrounding everything in a city of this magnitude people seem to be in their own world. From daily commuters rushing past one another to work as if neither existed to tourists gazing into the lights of Times Square the heartbeat of New York can be found on Broadway. These photographs explore simple and fleeting moments. Originally Broadway was a Native American foot trail, soon taken over by the first Dutch settlers. Running from Bowling Green at the tip of Manhattan winding its way through the financial and theatre districts, times square, the bronx and small towns on the hudson river eventually coming to an end near Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County. Broadway defines New York, yet is constantly changing. These photographs are a record of Broadway its residents and visitors. This is still a work in progress…” (from Courvoisier officiel website)

“With pricing starting at $6.99 per linear foot, we provide you with attractive “like new” hardback books. These books will display attractively and offer your clients great value. We can also quote you unit pricing should your specs require.”

If you have more money, try Strand Books : apparently, they “put together” library for client such as Steven Spielberg and Polo Ralph Lauren… For 400$/foot you can have “Beautiful antique leather books with gold tooling, mostly 19th Century books in good condition.” That’s not all: “Your library of fine antique leather books can be customized by language or color for a higher price.”

No need to read them.