Assouline is celebrating Vespa’s 80th anniversary with a new luxury book that explores the cultural legacy of one of Italy’s most recognizable icons. Created in collaboration with Vespa, the volume looks beyond the scooter as a means of transportation, examining its influence on design, fashion, film, sport, and the enduring spirit of Italian lifestyle.
Simply titled Vespa, the 292-page book is written by Michael Köckritz and features 188 illustrations. Rather than following a strictly chronological history, the book takes a thematic approach to Vespa’s evolution, exploring how the brand became deeply connected to Italian culture and eventually transformed into a global symbol of freedom, style, and la dolce vita.
Rare archival material gives the story added depth. Vintage brochures, original advertisements from around the world, and historic calendars from the Vespa archive help illustrate how the scooter’s visual identity and cultural influence developed over eight decades. The result is presented not as a technical manual or traditional collector’s catalogue, but as a portrait of Vespa as a cultural phenomenon.
The collaboration extends beyond the book itself. Assouline and Vespa have also created a limited-edition collectible helmet finished in Assouline’s signature red and decorated with motifs inspired by the publisher’s Travel Series. During the summer, similarly styled Vespas are being displayed at select Assouline stores around the world, turning the boutiques into showcases for the collaboration.
The book is part of Assouline’s Classics Collection and was released in June 2026. It measures 13 by 10 inches and weighs more than six pounds, emphasizing its position as a substantial design object as well as a book. The volume is available for $120, while a special Rider’s Gift Set combines the book with the limited-edition helmet.
Through photography, archival imagery, and storytelling, Assouline captures why Vespa has remained relevant for 80 years. The collaboration celebrates not simply a scooter, but an enduring symbol of movement, individuality, and Italian style.
Images courtesy of Assouline
