If You Ever Wanted A Vespa On Your Coffee Table, This Might Be Your Book

Vespa might have started as a practical way for post-war Italian riders to get around. But over the past 80 years, it's become a style icon.

Photo by: Gioconda and August/Assouline

By: Janaki Jitchotvisut

Jun 16, at 8:31am ET

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People who love scooters and motorcycles already know this, but for everyone else: Guess what, guys? These two-wheeled things we love can absolutely be art. Rolling sculptures, even; appreciated by whoever happens to witness them as they zip by, or even while they're parked somewhere.

That's why, as part of Vespa's yearlong celebration of its 80th anniversary, we're seeing all kinds of ways that the world's most iconic scooter maker has become an inextricable part of the culture. Whose culture? Yours, mine, ours; everyone's, and that's kind of the entire point.

Vespa is for the Vespisti. Always has been; always will be.

And if you've ever thought to yourself that the sheer artistic ethos embodied by Vespa since the beginning belongs on your coffee table, well, have I got news for you about Vespa's latest collaboration with New York-based luxury coffee table book publisher Assouline.

Vespa x Assouline Cover

Photo by: Assouline

Now, if the only time you pay attention to oversized art books like these is when they involve beautiful machinery on two wheels, then Assouline is a name you might not be familiar with. While the publisher has crafted over 300 volumes so far, covering a range of subjects from sports to fashion, and from wine to travel, it really hasn't done a lot on two wheels.

Formula One fans may have seen its Formula 1: The Impossible Collection volume, but again, F1 isn't usually done on two wheels (unless something goes seriously sideways). Film fans might also have seen the very limited-edition Tim Palen: Photographs from the Hunger Games, and perhaps (like me) marveled at the inherent artistic dialogue and cultural critique of such a volume, particularly when juxtaposed against the entire universe of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series (as well as the films based on it).

But none of those things are two-wheeled in nature, and in any event, they're certainly not Vespa.

Photo by: Archivio Storico Piaggio

Released as part of Assouline's Classics Collection, the volume is very simply titled Vespa, and features a cover that's a close-up of a chrome Vespa logo on a bright red leg shield. The framing uses the chrome arch around the shield to draw attention to its contents, drawing the eye around and down to the light in the lower left corner, which winks like a diamond, although it doesn't appear to be illuminated.

The publisher's name is written in small, white, block text in the center bottom portion of the cover, as well as on the spine. The text inside is written by Michael Köckritz, whose name also appears on the upper portion of the spine.

Vespa x Assouline

Photo by: Gioconda and August/Assouline

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It's a 292-page volume, containing 188 illustrations inside along with Köckritz's text (and before you comment, this is not a review; this is a product description). The book is properly massive, with a height of 13 inches, a width of 10 inches, and a thickness of 1.5 inches. The publisher clocks its weight at 6.17 pounds (or approximately 2.79 kilograms, if you prefer). It's a new release in the Assouline catalogue as of June 2026, retailing for US $120.

What's that, you were hoping for something a little snazzier than a fancy coffee table book for Vespa's 80th? Don't worry; Assouline's got you there, too. There's also a special Rider's Gift Set that features both this Vespa volume and a special limited-edition helmet. This set carries a US MSRP of $435, but you can also purchase just the helmet by itself for $315. The entire collection will be on display at various Assouline retail locations worldwide as well, so you can see them in person for yourself.