MURRAY, James T and Karla L. Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York.

(Berkeley, CA): Ginko Press, 2010.  First edition.  Small oblong quarto.  329 pages.  A wonderful photographic documentation of New York City’s timeworn storefronts, a collection of powerful images that capture the neighbourhood spirit, familiarity, comfort and warmth that these shops once embodied. Almost all of these businesses are a reflection of New York’s early immigrant population, a wild mix of Irish, Germans, Jews, Italians, Poles, Eastern Europeans and later Hispanics and Chinese. The variety is immense from Manhattan’s Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery and Katz’s Delicatessen to the Jackson Heights Florist in Queens, Court Street Pastry in Brooklyn, D. D’Auria and Sons Pork Store in the Bronx and the De Luca General Store on Staten Island. Illustrated throughout, including fold-out plates.  A near fine copy in photo-illustrated boards without dust jacket as issued.  Uncommon in the first printing.