Assouline Riva Aquarama

When it comes to glamour and style at sea, there's nothing more captivating than the Aquarama. Dreamed up by the legendary Carlo Riva, the runabout wooden speedboat has become an icon of Italian design and the Riva Aquarama book, published by Assouline, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Beloved for its clean lines, mahogany, gleaming chrome detailing and signature robin's egg blue and cream upholstery, the Aquarama reflected the la dolce vita optimism of early 60s Italy; it's impossible to imagine the glittering Côte d'Azur and the coasts of Europe without visions of endless summers spent lounging on the back of the boat in the warm summer sun and the gentle roar of the engine as the Aquarama cut through the surf.

The Riva icon enjoyed mythical status and was beloved by film stars, heads of state and royalty - everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Elizabeth Taylor, Gunter Sachs to the Royal Family of Monaco and countless other celebrities have fallen under the spell of the Aquarama. Of the 760 or so Aquaramas built at the Sarnico shipyard, Riva experts estimate that around 650 still exist, adding to the boat's legendary status. But more than just a trophy, the Aquarama is beloved by its owners and enthusiasts alike - it is not just a boat, it is the realisation of a dream. In this extraordinary tribute to the Aquarama, author Michael Verdon tells the story of this legendary boat and brings its dolce vita charm to life. The book is also available in a special edition, presented in a luxurious mahogany box designed to evoke the beauty of the Aquarama's magnificent hull. This special edition offers owners, collectors and enthusiasts alike a piece of the Riva dream.

Assouline's Ultimate Collection is a tribute to the art of luxury bookmaking. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with colour plates hand-tinted on fine art paper, each page of this limited edition series bears the unique imprint of the artisan. Covering a range of subjects from jewellery and fashion to fine art and the 'Impossible Collections', the Ultimate Collection curates culture from around the world and across the ages. Presented in linen clamshell cases, these books will appeal to collectors, lovers of the printed page and those who devour the culture of our time. A new level of sophistication for the true connoisseur, these unique books are works of art in their own right.