9_ THE ARGOSY BOOKSTORE

Maps, atlases, and sea charts for your voyages

Hidden in plain sight in midtown Manhattan, The Argosy, which specializes in antiquarian and out-of-print books, is a book lover’s dream. Founded in 1925 and now in its third generation of family ownership, the store takes up six floors, and they also have a warehouse in Brooklyn.

Kids will enjoy the incredible selection of old maps and prints, including one of the most extensive collections of antique maps in the city. Older kids often gravitate to the American History section. And don’t miss the sea charts, atlases, and globes, as well as many types of maps, including topographical and geological. You never know what you might find, and that’s part of the appeal. It’s like an incredible library where everything is for sale.

While you’re wandering among the treasures, you’ll also find a trove of old sheet music, postcards, and prints, many of them conveniently placed at kid-level. You can always ask to see anything that’s out of reach.

TIP: Books of Wonder has a wonderful section of old and rare kids’ books from long, long ago.

There’s a small section of kids’ books, consisting mostly of older and even out-of-print books. Argosy is a great place to find a forgotten classic or a book you loved as a kid. Do you love reading fairy tales out loud (see ch. 31)? You might find a 1947 edition of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales or a beautifully illustrated copy of Cinderella and the Two Gifts from 1886. Some things never change.

On the other floors that do not have children’s books, kids will still enjoy seeing the sheer number of books that are piled everywhere, waiting to be opened.