If one ever wanted to assess the world and what's in it, this season's roster of illustrated gift books provides an abundance of suitable material. Traveling souls can visit such exotic ports of call as Patagonia, the Galapagos, the Seychelle Islands and the Far East. Call on Voyages for advice on the 100 most perfect destinations and study the new refitting of the QE2, only one mode of transportation featured in the list that follows.

New York City is a hot topic with publishers this season -- readers can peruse an illustrated history, delight in a city all aglow for Christmas, examine the brilliant design of the Brooklyn Bridge, discover the majesty of a renewed Grand Central Station, mourn the loss of the old Penn Station and invest in 100 Years of Wall Street.

The ever-popular celebrity alert is flashing like a paparazzo's camera in Star Style at the Academy Awards and Laugh: Portraits of Great Comedians; lovers of celebs past can revisit stills of Marilyn and Elvis. Our interest in viewing the darker side of life is revealed in New York Noir and Diane Keaton: Local News -- whose violent photos were pulled from 1930s and '40s newspaper archives -- while Voyeur allows us to peek behind closed doors. But perhaps the most amusing example of people-watching can be seen in Museum Watching, where the camera lens observes the unsuspecting with fascinating results.

Read on and discover your own predilections.

ABBEVILLE

America, America (Sept., $45) by Robin Magowan, photos by Sonja Bullaty and Angelo Lomeo, offers a visual memoir from the nostalgic 1950s to the high-tech '90s.

Andrea del Sarto (Sept., $125) by Antonio Natali studies the life and art of the Florentine contemporary of Raphael and Michelangelo; includes 200 color reproductions.

Childe Hassam, Impressionist (Oct., $75) by Warren Adelson, Jay Cantor and William H. Gerdt. Three experts analyze the American artist's life and work.

ABRAMS

Diego Rivera (Sept., $49.50) by Pete Hamill combines biographical information with an assessment of the Mexican artist's work. Advertising. BOMC selection.

My Favorite Things: 75 Works of Art from Around the World (Oct., $29.95) by Sister Wendy Beckett. The famous British nun presents her personal picks. Advertising.

Tiffany Jewels (Nov., $60) by John Loring spotlights jewelry created by Tiffany & Co. designers such as Edward C. Moore, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso. Advertising.

Earth from Above (Nov., $65) by Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures nearly 200 aerial images of five continents and 60 countries. Advertising. BOMC and Doubleday Select Natural Science Book Club selections.

Williamsburg Christmas (Dec., $24.95) by Libbey Hodges Oliver and Mary Miley Theobald. Photographs chronicle the evolution of holiday decoration in Williamsburg, Va., from the 18th century to the present. Advertising. Country Homes & Gardens Book Club selection.

ADAMS MEDIA

Rooms to Remember: Interiors Inspired by the Past (Sept., $29.95) by Barbara St ltie draws on style from an American country retreat, a French fisherman's dwelling and an 18th-century manor house. 10,000 first printing.

The Bold & Brilliant Garden (Jan., $29.95) by Sarah Raven features plants and blooms that are bright with color, large in size and rich with texture.

ANDREWS MCMEEL

Tracy Porter's Inspired Gatherings (Nov., $29.95) by Tracy Porter suggests unlikely elements to create imaginative parties. 25,000 first printing. Country Homes & Gardens Book Club alternate.

ANGEL CITY PRESS

Fabulous Las Vegas in the 50s: Glitz, Glamour and Games (Sept., $26.95) by Fred E. Basten and Charles Ph nix is a retro-kitsch look at the early days of Vegas through memorabilia, tourists' snapshots and celebrity photos.

Star Style at the Academy Awards: 70 Years of Glamour (Jan., $35) by Patty Fox. More than 130 photographs capture fashion, hairstyle and makeup trends seen at the Oscars.

ANTIQUE COLLECTORS' CLUB

Christmas: Antiques, Decorations & Traditions (Oct., $39.50) by Constance King features Christmas objects and their origins.

Marine Art & Antiques: Jack Tar, A Sailor's Life (Oct., $65) by J. Welles Henderson with Rodney P. Carlisle examines manuscripts, prints, paintings, diaries and more to focus on sailors' everyday lives.

ARENA EDITIONS

(dist. by D.A.P.)

Lynn Davis: Monument (Sept., $65) by Patti Smith and Rudolph Wurlitzer, photos by Lynn Davis. Sparse composition adds drama to large-scale images such as Greenland's giant icebergs and the temples of Cambodia.

Peter Beard: Fifty Years of Portraits (Oct., $75) by Peter Beard binds together a diverse and eclectic collection of images from a lifetime of travel and adventure.

ARTISAN

Tulipa: A Photographer's Botanical (Nov., $65) by Willem Lemmers, photos by Christopher Baker. A garden photographer and a tulip expert join forces; 350 color images.

Dreads (Nov., $35) by Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano, intro. by Alice Walker. Rebels of this hair revolution are shown in 100 duotone photographs.

BALCONY PRESS

American Venus: The Extraordinary Life of Audrey Munson, Model and Muse (Sept., $27.95) by Diane Rozas follows the rise and fall of the 1920s model whose likeness appears on the Miss Liberty dime as well as in thousands of sculptures and paintings.

BALLANTINE

Altars: Bringing Sacred Shrines into Your Everyday Life (Oct., $24.95) by Denise Linn shows how to create spiritual spaces at home or the office. Advertising.

Elvis Day by Day: The Definitive Record of His Life and Music (Oct., $49.95) by Peter Guralnick and Ernst Jorgensen remembers the King through photographs, documents, letters, artifacts and memorabilia. Advertising. Author tour.

BARRON'S

Icons of the Century (Sept., $29.95) by Giorgio Taborelli profiles 100 men and women who made a difference.

The World of Cats (Oct., $21.95) by Stefano Salviati, photos by Yves Lanceau, supplies photos, period prints, reproductions of famous paintings and text in a large-format volume devoted to cat behavior.

MITCHELL BEAZLEY

(dist. by Trafalgar Square)

Beside the Seaside (Aug., $29.95) by Joseph Connolly. Vintage photographs revisit the pleasures derived by generations of Britons who spent summers at the beach.

CAMINO BOOKS

Millennium Philadelphia: The Last 100 Years (Sept., $29.95) by the Philadelphia Inquirer staff. More than 400 photographs depict the city's take on culture, crime, war, social movements, sports, celebrities and movers and shakers; a companion to a 4-part series on the ABC-TV affiliate in Philadelphia. $100,000 ad/promo.

CARLTON BOOKS

(dist. by NBN)

The Handbag (Sept., $20) by Carmel Allen illustrates 100 years of pocketbook evolution, highlighting the style-shapers and major designers.

NASCAR: A Celebration (Sept., $24.95) by Bob Latford traces the history and the development of auto racing through the faces behind-the-scenes and the personalities behind the wheels.

Visual History of the Twentieth Century (Sept., $35), edited by Terry Burrows. Color photographs cover every major event in a year-by-year format.

CASSELL

(dist. by Sterling)

Freedom of the Skies: An Illustrated History of NATO Air Power (Nov., $40) by Peter R. March recounts NATO's aircraft with pictures, charts of key specifications and summaries of specific roles.

CEDCO PUBLISHING

The Railroad Artistry of Howard Fogg (Sept., $49.95) by Ronald C. Hill and Al Chione, illus. by Howard Fogg. More than 180 images reveal the golden age of railroading.

Until Now (Oct., $49.95) by Anne Geddes. This retrospective showcases more than 100 of Geddes's favorite photographs that celebrate life and birth. 100,000 first printing. $400,000 ad/promo.

CHELSEA HOUSE

Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses (Nov., $29.95) by Bruce Roberts and Ray Jones is one of three titles in a new series that includes the oldest lighthouse in the United States (1764), at Sandy Hook, N.J.

Famous Trains of the Twentieth Century (Dec., $21.95) by Christopher Chant. Illustrations and text highlight the best known railroad cars of the past 100 years; a title in the new World's Railroads series.

CHRONICLE BOOKS

American Photography: A Century of Images (Oct., $40) by Vicki Goldberg and Robert Silberman examines how photography has shaped our lives; a companion to the PBS-TV series airing in October. 40,000 first printing.

Star Wars Masterpiece Edition: C-3PO: Tales of the Golden Droid (Oct., $75) by Josh Ling and Daniel Wallace. C-3PO's creators present a pictorial overview of the droid and its collectibles; comes with a 12" C-3PO articulated figure. 70,000 first printing.

Love and Desire: Photoworks (Nov., $35) by William A. Ewing. More than 300 color and duotone images explore human intimacy over the past 150 years. 65,000 first printing.

Patagonia: Notes from the Field (Jan., $22.95), edited by Nora Gallagher. Shots of the Argentinean region are accompanied by text from authors including Paul Theroux, Gretel Ehrlich and Tom Brokaw.

COLLINS & BROWN

(dist. by Sterling)

Flowers (Nov., $39.95) by Pulbrook & Gould, internationally known florists, offer extravagant large-scale showstoppers, informal country arrangements and innovative contemporary combinations.

Gardens of Ireland (Nov., $29.95) by Marianne Herron, photos by Steven Wooster, visits 30 Irish gardens via 200 inspirational color photos.

CORNELL UNIV. PRESS

Flowering Plants of the Galapagos (Dec.; $59.95, paper $29.95) by Conley K. McMullen is a guide to the wide-ranging assortment of the islands' unusual plants and animals.

CROWN

The Civil War (Sept., $29.95) by Chuck Lawliss. This 3-D, interactive book allows readers to examine ticket facsimiles of the Ford's Theater production when Lincoln was assassinated, decipher spies' messages with a code key and hold a reproduction of the note John Brown passed to a soldier before his execution.

D.A.P.

Diane Keaton: Local News (Nov., $35), edited by Diane Keaton, uncovers sensational photographs from Los Angeles's Hearst-owned Herald Express during the 1930s and '40s.

DELL/DELACORTE

I'll Be Home for Christmas: The Library of Congress Revisits the Spirit of Christmas During World War II (Oct., $24) by the Library of Congress. This collection of stories, correspondence, photographs, illustrations and diary excerpts reveals the spirit that carried soldiers and their families through the fears and uncertainty of war; a Stonesong Press book.

DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE

Disney: The First Hundred Years (Oct., $40) by Dave Smith and Steven Clark. Colorful art and nostalgic drawings chronicle a year-by-year celebration of the birth and success of Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company.

Fantasia 2000: Visions of Hope (Dec., $75) by John Culhane reproduces the stunning artwork for the soon-to-be released follow-up to Disney's 1940 animated classic.

DK

Best Shots: The Greatest NFL Photography of the Century (Sept., $30), compiled by DK and the NFL, foreword by J Namath, captures more than 100 photographs from NFL history.

100 Best Album Covers (Sept., $19.95) by Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell presents the most memorable jackets, with "stories behind the sleeves." 3-city author tour.

Sister Wendy's 1000 Masterpieces (Sept., $40) by Sister Wendy Beckett evaluates the great paintings of Western art. Advertising.

Voyages (Oct., $40), photos by Harvey Lloyd. Photographs display 100 of the world's most beautiful ports of call, selected by leading travel writers; includes details on dream destinations.

DOUBLETAKE BOOKS

(dist. by W.W. Norton)

What Was True: The Photographs and Notebooks of William Gedney (Dec., $35) by William Gedney, edited by Margaret Sartor, presents the work of a highly reclusive photographer who recorded others' lives with remarkable sensitivity and poignancy.

EDITION STEMMLE

(dist. by Abbeville)

Andy Warhol -- Photography (Aug., $75) by Callie Angel, Hubertus Butin, Mark Francis, Margery King, John Smith and Reva Wolf, edited by the Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, and Hamburger Kuntshalle, pays tribute to Warhol's extensive photographic uvre.

Skrebneski: The First Fifty Years (Sept., $75) by Denise Miller, Robert A. Sobieszek and Victor Skrebneski features the fashion and portrait photographer's work.

Leonard Bernstein: The Last Ten Years (Nov., $49.95) by Alexander Bernstein, August Everding and Isaac Stern, photos by Thomas R. Seiler, captures intimate moments on stage and off.

Monsoon (Dec., $60), photos by Motoi Ichihara, is a photographic journey through Asia's rainy season.

FIREFLY BOOKS

Golf: The Legends of the Game (Dec., $35) by Alistair Tait pays tribute to the top 300 men and women of the sport with photos of the most unforgettable moments in the history of major championships.

Hockey's Greatest Stars: Legends and Young Lions (Dec., $35) by Chris McDonnell honors current and past superstars of the sport. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.

The Miracle of Flight (Dec., $40) by Stephen Dalton looks at everything that flies, from insects to airplanes, via color photographs, illustrations and text. 25,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo.

GETTY TRUST PUBLICATIONS

Alpha and Omega: Visions of the Millennium (Oct., $16.95) collects apocalyptic images of the Revelation of Saint John the Divine by artists such as Hieronymus Bosch, Michelangelo and William Blake. Advertising.

The Superhuman Crew (Oct., $24.95), painting by James Ensor, lyrics by Bob Dylan, examines each section of Ensor's painting Christ's Entry into Brussels, adding Dylan's lyrics from Desolation Row as captions; includes CD.

GRAPHIC ARTS CENTER

America, This Great Land (Aug., $35) by Suzanne Hall, photos by Fred Hirschmann, is a visual travelogue depicting national scenic wonders.

California (Sept., $39.95), photos by David and Marc Muench, is a photographic tour of the Golden State's natural beauty.

HAMLYN

(dist. by Sterling)

Key Moments in Fashion: The Evolution of Style (Nov., $29.95), edited by Nigel Cawthorne, Emily Evans, Marc Kitchen-smith, Kate Mulvey and Melissa Richards. Photographs and drawings identify major figures and clothing styles that have shaped attitudes about fashion throughout the 20th century.

HARCOURT BRACE

The Headless Bust: A Melancholy Meditation for the False Millennium (Oct., $15) by Edward Gorey. The cartoonist of the New Yorker magazine fame returns with a companion volume to last year's The Haunted Tea-Cosy. 45,000 first printing.

HARPERCOLLINS

Carolyne R hm's Fall Notebook (Sept., $25) and ...Winter... (Nov., $23) by Carolyne R hm are the second and third in a seasonal series of workbooks on the art of gracious living.

Halston: An American Original (Sept., $50) by Fred Rottman and Elaine Gross celebrates the American fashion designer with reprints of original sketches and patterns, photos of celebrity clients and runway shots. 30,000 first printing.

NASCAR Greatest Races: The 25 Most Exciting Races in NASCAR History (Nov., $30) compiles an in-depth look at the most thrilling races with reviews and photos. 50,000 first printing.

Voyeur (Nov., $35), edited by Charles Melcher and Todd Hido. B&w photographs explore the erotic nature of watching others without being seen.

HARVARD UNIV. PRESS

Atlas of the Year 1000 (Dec., $26) by John Man. Color illustrations and maps help readers return to the beginning of the last millennium.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Fenway: A Biography in Words and Pictures (Aug., $30) by Dan Shaughnessy, photos by Stan Grossfield, honors Boston's historic baseball park.

HUDSON HILLS PRESS

Bridge of Dreams: The Rebirth of the Brooklyn Bridge (Nov., $45) by Phillip Lopate, photos by Burhan Dogançay. Forty-eight platinum-print duotones reveal the beauty, magic and surreal moodiness of the famous structure.

John Raimondi: Sculptor (Dec., $45) by William Corbett and Sam Hunter studies Raimondi's public sculptures of monumental scale; 90 color plates.

Knights of the Brush: The Hudson River School and the Moral Landscape (Dec., $35) by James F. Cooper analyzes American landscape painting in relation to religious, moral and aesthetic themes.

Wildeworld: The Art of John Wilde (Dec., $50) by Theodore F. Wolff and Russel Panczenko presents 104 color plates by the Renaissance-inspired artist who revived silverpoint drawings to complement his jewel-colored paintings.

HYPERION

ESPN: SportsCentury (Sept., $40), edited by Michael MacCambridge, intro. by David Halberstam, names the 100 greatest athletes of the century, organized by decade. Advertising. 30-city mall tour. TV and radio satellite tour.

Fay (Oct., $26.95) by William Wegman chronicles the adventures of the world-renowned photographer and his beloved canine, Fay . Advertising.

IMAGES

(dist. by Antique Collectors' Club)

Living with Nature: House Design by Javier Barba (Oct., $34.95) by Michael Webb presents the best of the architect's bioclimatic architecture.

KNOPF

Yachting's Golden Age: 1880“1905 (Oct., $60) by Ed Holm recalls the lavish, romantic world of sailing's heyday with more than 100 photographs. Advertising.

New York: An Illustrated History (Nov., $60) by Ric Burns and James Sanders with Lisa Ades looks at three and a half centuries of turbulent growth, vital energy and dominant presence; companion to a 12-hour PBS-TV series. 100,000 first printing.

Silent Stars (Nov., $35) by Jeanine Basinger highlights the great stars of the silent screen along with those who have been misperceived, dismissed or forgotten. Advertising.

HUGH LAUTER LEVIN

Van Gogh in Provence and Auvers (Oct., $95) by Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov gathers the artist's work created during his most prolific months, from his arrival in Arles in February 1888 to his death in July 1890.

Faberge: The Forbes Collection (Nov., $100) by Christopher Forbes and Robyn Tromeur-Brenner. More than 100 color plates highlight objets d'art and 12 Imperial Easter Eggs from the tiny Fifth Avenue museum.

Women Artists (Nov., $75) by Margaret Barlow reviews the accomplishments of women artists from pre-Renaissance to the present with more than 300 color plates.

LITTLE, BROWN

Pharaohs of the Sun (Nov., $60) by Rita E. Freed, Yvonne J. Markowitz and Sue H. D'Auria with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, profiles the Boston exhibit while exploring and appreciating the beauty of Amarna culture, the city that Pharaoh Akhenaten founded 3500 years ago.

LOUISIANA STATE UNIV. PRESS

Native Soil (Oct., $65) by Jack Spencer. B&w photographs reveal the beauty and fecundity of the photographer's native South.

MCGRAW-HILL

100 Years of Wall Street (Oct., $29.95) by Charles R. Geisst shares the street's financial, cultural and social events through b&w photographs and illustrations.

MCLELLAND & STEWART

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: Woman of the Century (Sept., $24.95) by Hugh Massingberd chronicles the Queen Mum's life with photographs.

Total Gretzky: The Magic, the Legend, the Numbers (Nov., $24.95), edited by Steve Dryden, honors the one and only #99 and his contributions to the game of hockey. Advertising.

MILLER FREEMAN

Masters of Jazz Guitar: The Story of the Players and Their Music (Oct., $39.95), edited by Charles Alexander, examines the instrument's role in the development of jazz and looks at the lives, work and influences of virtuoso jazz guitarists.

MIT PRESS

Mapping Boston (Oct., $50) by Alex Krieger and David Cobb with Amy Turner explores the life and history of the city through its maps; 237 illustrations. Advertising.

Ghost in the Shell: Photography and the Human Soul, 1850“2000 (Nov., $59.95) by Robert A. Sobieszek studies the photographic portrait. Advertising.

THE MONACELLI PRESS

Tihany Design (Oct., $65) by Adam D. Tihany features more than 40 of the architect's restaurant and hotel designs, including Le Cirque 2000, Jean Georges and the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

American Ruins (Nov., $60) by Camilo José Vergara documents the transformation of the American inner city with a particular focus on ghettos; 290 color photographs.

Roman Gardens: Villas of the City (Nov., $65) by Marcello Fagiolo, photos by Roberto Schezen, looks at magnificent urban retreats created by cardinals and princes of the 16th and 17th centuries.

MOREHOUSE

The Crucifixion in Irish Art (Jan., $18.95) by Peter Harbison. Photographs portray Ireland's interpretation of the crucifixion from the ninth century to the present.

MORROW

Glory: Photographs of Athletes (Oct., $45) by Richard Corman. Dramatic b&w images capture the power and intensity of professional sports figures.

Laugh: Portraits of the Greatest Comedians and the Funny Stories They Tell Each Other (Nov., $30), photos by William Claxton, intro. by John Lithgow, highlights 50 celebrities, including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Carol Burnett, who discuss what makes them laugh.

MORROW/HEARST

Country Living Decorating Style (Nov., $30) by Country Living editors suggests new ways to create a sophisticated country look.

Irish Gardens (Nov., $40) by Country Living editors presents beautiful and serene gardens; 220 color photographs.

Looking for Jackie: American Fashion Icons (Nov., $50) by Kathleen Craughwell-Varda identifies 13 women whose distinctive style captured the imagination of the American public and shaped popular fashion.

MORROW/ROB WEISBACH

The Pop-Up Book of Phobias (Nov., $24.95) by Gary Greenberg, illus. by Balvis Rubess. Elaborate 3-D images depicting common fears spring to life in this comedic book.

MBI

Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth Muscle (Aug., $29.95) by Tony Young is a photo-history of Chrysler's big-block muscle cars developed in 1955 through today's Dodge Viper.

The American State Fair (Sept., $29.95) by Derek Nelson steps right up with a nostalgic look at state fairs, which began as agricultural expositions in the 1800s.

The American Car Dealership (Oct., $29.95) by Robert Genat revisits the architecture, marketing and business practices of selling cars, from 1930s art deco showrooms to modern glass-walled superstores.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOKS

Other Worlds: The Solar System and Beyond (Sept., $35) by James Trefil. Images from the Hubble space telescope explore our solar system, black holes, pulsars, comets and asteroids. 35,000 first printing. BOMC selection.

Cuba (Oct., $50) by Elizabeth Newhouse, photos by David Alan Harvey, exposes the people, culture and politics of the island "off-limits" to Americans. 25,000 first printing. BOMC selection. 5-city author tour.

Last Climb: The Legendary Everest Expeditions of George Mallory (Oct., $35) by David Breashears and Audrey Salkeld chronicles Mallory's attempts to reach the mountain's summit; includes more than 100 unpublished photographs. 75,000 first printing. BOMC, QPB and History Book Club selections. 10-city author tour.

Return to Midway (Oct., $40) by Robert D. Ballard and Rick Archbold, paintings by Ken Marschall, photos by David Doubilet, re-creates Ballard's quest to find the Yorktown and other ships lost in the 1942 missions off Midway Island. 50,000 first printing. National Geographic TV special and video. BOMC and History Book Club selections. 9-city author tour. 10-city TV satellite tour.

NEWMARKET

Cradle Will Rock: The Making of the Movie (Nov., $24.95) by Tim Robbins g s behind the scenes of current filming and documents the original story of the 1936 renegade production of the proletariat musical The Cradle Will Rock.

W.W. NORTON

Diego Rivera: Detroit Industry Murals (Sept., $49.95) by Linda Downs studies the work by the noted Mexican muralist.

QE2: The Cunard Line Flagship, Queen Elizabeth II (Sept., $40) by Capt. Ronald W. Warwick. Photographs update the 1990s refit of the majestic ship.

The American Century: Art and Culture, 1950“2000 (Oct., $60) by Lisa Phillips is published in association with New York City's Whitney Museum of Art and coincides with the opening of Part II of "The American Century" exhibit.

Grand Central: Gateway to a Million Lives (Nov., $35) by John Belle and Maxinne Leighton pays tribute to New York City's famous train terminal.

OVERLOOK PRESS

Havana: La Vida (Sept., $60) by Alberto Schommer is a collection of photos highlighting the beauty of Cuba and its people.

The Marilyn Encyclopedia (Oct., $50) by Adam Victor remembers the blonde sex symbol. 50,000 first printing.

The Noir Style (Nov., $50) by Alain Silver and James Ursini. B&w photos capture this film genre style.

PARKSTONE PRESS

Russia's Four Seasons: Landscapes and Images of Mother Russia (Oct., $55) by Elisabeth Ingles collects examples of the best landscape artists' work.

The Art of Cigar Bands (Nov., $55) by Robert Kevin includes more than 700 bands, which have become new collectors' items.

PAVILION

(dist. by Trafalgar Square)

Clarice Cliff: The Art of Bizarre -- A Definitive Centenary Celebration (Aug., $45) by Leonard Griffin honors the life and work of the ceramic artist, featuring more than 200 photographs of her designs. Antique & Collectibles Book Club selection.

The Golden Age of Discovery (Aug., $45) by John Hemming. Photographs show the results of international exploration and discovery in the last half-century.

Elizabeth: The Queen Mother -- A Twentieth Century Life (Sept., $35) by Grania Forbes offers a portrait of the Queen Mother as well as a look at 20th-century Britain.

PHAIDON PRESS

Century (Oct., $49.95) by Bruce Bernard looks at 20th-century history through photographs depicting people and events from politics and war, art and invention, culture and society.

Inferno (Oct., $125) by James Nachtwey. A photographer captures Somalia's famine, Rwanda's abandoned orphans and India's untouchables.

Museum Watching (Oct., $29.95) by Elliott Erwitt entertains readers with photographs taken of unsuspecting museum-g rs as they gaze upon artworks.

POMEGRANATE

David Roberts: Travels in Egypt and the Holy Land (Aug., $30) by Debra Mancoff collects the 19th-century British artist's lithographs that introduced European and Middle Eastern cultures to each other.

Charles Bragg: The Works! A Retrospective (Oct., $60; limited edition with slipcase and signed original lithograph, $250) by Alan Bisbort offers a collection of the artist's work and investigates his techniques, inspirations, motivations and social and political views.

CLARKSON POTTER

At Home with Art: How Art Lovers Live with and Care for Their Treasures (Sept., $50) by Estelle Ellis, Caroline Seebohm and Christopher Simon Sykes. Hundreds of color photographs show art lovers' collections and the ways they display and maintain them.

Christopher Radko's Ornaments (Sept., $22.50) by Olivia Bell Buehl features European, blown-glass Christmas decorations; each chapter features a different subject category.

Influential Interiors: Shaping 20th-Century Style Through Key Interior Designers (Sept., $45) by Suzanne Trocmé highlights the work of 25 designers with more than 100 color photographs. Advertising.

The Best of Martha Stewart Living: Weddings (Dec., $50) is organized into four parts: For the Ceremony, For the Reception, For Forever and For Reference. Advertising.

PUBLICAFFAIRS

American Greats (Nov., $50), edited by Robert A. Wilson and Stanley Marcus, gathers ideas, people, places and things that define the best of the nation.

RANDOM HOUSE

Paris 360° (Oct., $75) by Attilio Boccazzi-Varotto. The fourth in a series displays the City of Light with three-, four-, five- and six-page panoramas, many capturing a 360-degree rotation.

The Sixties (Oct., $75) by Richard Avedon and Doon Arbus combines Avedon's portraits with Arbus's interviews to revisit the tumultuous decade. Advertising. 2-city author tour.

Women (Nov., $75), photos by Annie Leibovitz, essay by Susan Sontag, celebrates more than 150 women from all walks of life and occupational fields. 3-city author tour.

RIVERHEAD

The American President (Oct., $50) by Philip Kunhardt III, Philip Kunhardt Jr. and Peter Kunhardt. More than 800 color and b&w illustrations and photographs depict the lives of all the White House occupants; a companion to the 10-hour PBS-TV/New York Life Insurance Co. series to air in spring 2000.

RIZZOLI INT'L

Gehry Talks: Architecture + Process (Oct., $65), edited by Mildred Friedman, essay by Michael Sorkin, commentaries by Frank O. Gehry, documents the architect's work from 1988 to the present, including the acclaimed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; 200 color photographs.

Millennium Mode: Fashion Forecast from 40 Top Designers (Oct., $50) by Roberta Wolf and Trudy Schlachter, photos by Trudy Schlachter, predicts the future of clothing and accessories, such as garments with temperature response and bracelets that double as cellular phones.

New York Noir: Crime Photos from the Daily News Archive (Oct., $29.95) by William Hannigan captures the faces of notorious criminals and their handiwork from the past 40 years.

Rejoice! 700 Years of the Papal Jubilees (Dec., $75), edited by Maurizio Calvesi features art treasures commissioned by the Vatican for their Jubilee celebrations and will currently include works from Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and architect Richard Meier.

RUNNING PRESS

Atlas in the Round: Our Planet as You've Never Seen It Before (Sept., $15.95) by Keith Lye offers a 3-D look at the world as it appears from above with detailed population patterns, weather systems, volcanic regions and more.

Girlfriends (Oct., $27.50) by Jayne Wexler and Lauren Cowen celebrates female friendship with words and photographs.

The Afterlife of Flowers (Nov., $24.95) by Janie Feldman Gross captures the fragile beauty of pressed, dried flowers.

The Civil War: A New View in Close-Up 3-D (Dec., $19.95) by Marc E. Frey. Six multidimensional spreads pop up in this exploration of the pivotal struggle in American history.

ST. MARTIN'S

Kennedy Weddings: A Family Album (Oct., $35) by Jay Mulvaney. Photographs and memorabilia chronicle three generations of the famous family, beginning with the marriage of Joseph and Rose in 1914. 50,000 first printing. Author publicity.

The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook (Nov., $27.50) by Alan Mayor. A 25-year veteran of the Nashville music scene gathers his photos taken in recording studios, at award shows and in personal and candid settings; a Thomas Dunne book. 35,000 first printing. Author publicity.

Muhammad Ali: The Birth of a Legend, Miami, 1961“1964 (Dec., $27.95) by Flip Schulke with Matt Schudel remembers the young Cassius Clay. 35,000 first printing.

SCALO PUBLISHERS

(dist. by D.A.P.)

Juergen Teller: Go-Sees, Girls Knocking on My Door (Oct., $49.95) by Juergen Teller collects photographs from aspiring models' "books."

SIMON & SCHUSTER

The Heart of Burgundy: A Portrait of the French Countryside (Oct., $30) by Robert M. Parker Jr., photos by Andy Katz, celebrates grapes, vines and vineyards while painting a picture of the unique culture of this region.

If This House Could Talk: Historic Homes, Extraordinary Americans (Oct., $35) by Elizabeth Smith Brownstein with support from the Smithsonian Institute. Twenty-seven homes reveal the histories of their residents, from Robert Frost's Derry Farm to a Hawaiian royal palace; 200 color photographs.

Magnificent Universe (Nov., $60) by Ken Croswell takes readers on a celestial tour from the planets of the sun to the stars of the galaxy to the galaxies of the cosmos. Advertising. Author publicity. 3-city author tour.

People of the Century: One Hundred Men and Women Who Shaped the Last One Hundred Years (Nov., $35) by Time/CBS News, foreword by Dan Rather. Contemporary writers such as Salman Rushdie, Elie Weisel, Molly Ivins and William F. Buckley add captions to photographs of the most influential leaders, artists, intellects and her s of this century. 250,000 first printing. Advertising.

An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History (Dec., $30) by Hillary Rodham Clinton with Cheryle Merser. The First Lady focuses on Americana style with historically accurate renovations, art acquisitions, diverse entertainment and American cuisine; 200 color photographs. 150,000 first printing. Advertising.

SKIRA

(dist. by Abbeville)

Jewels in Painting (Jan., $60) by Marie-Christine Austin, Alvar Gonzalez Palacios and Dian Scarisbrick chronicles jewelry's history from the Middle Ages through the late 19th century by studying its appearance in the art of the time.

GIBBS SMITH

Art of the Boot (Sept., $39.95) by Tyler Beard, photos by Jim Arndt, showcases elaborate cowboy boot design. Advertising. National author tour.

The New Hacienda (Sept., $39.95) by Karen Witynski and J P. Carr spotlights Mexican estates to reveal innovative interiors, native artifacts and antiques echoing original splendor. Regional author tour.

Fortune: The Art of Covering Business (Oct., $39.95) by Fortune magazine assembles past commissioned cover art that first appeared in 1929 and includes excerpts tracing American culture and economics. Advertising.

THE SPORTING NEWS

The Sporting News Selects Football's 100 Greatest Players (Aug., $29.95) by Ron Smith, edited by Carl Moritz, ranks players of the century by talent, passion and excitement brought to the playing field.

The Sporting News Selects Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments (Oct., $29.95) by Ron Smith. Look at the photographs that captured the moment and see if you agree; a companion book to an NBC-TV special to be aired October 23, 1999.

SPORTS -- P TRY IN MOTION

Power, Passion, Honor & Glory: Five Her s of Modern Golf (Oct., $34.95) by Gerald Sprayregen and William Hallberg stars Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods; 300 color photographs.

STEIDL

(dist. by D.A.P.)

Paradise (Nov., $19.95), edited by Patrick Remy and Susanne Ricard-Konig. One hundred photographers share their perception of paradise on earth.

STEWART TABORI & CHANG

Blue Dog Man (Sept., $50) by George Rodrigue collects 70 never-before-published paintings while the artist recalls legends and inspirations behind this new collection. 150,000 first printing. $175,000 ad/promo. 15-city author tour. 25-city satellite tour. Absolut Vodka and Blue Dog cross-promotion.

100 Years of Oz: A Century of Classic Images from the Wizard of Oz Collection of Willard Carroll (Oct., $29.95) by Willard Carroll and John Fricke, photos by Richard Glenn and Mark Hill, traces a century of Oz lithography, photography, sheet music, book jackets, stationery, manuscripts, costumes, film props, animation cells and more.

Jane Goodall: 40 Years at Gombe: A Tribute to Four Decades of Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation (Oct., $29.95), produced in association with the Jane Goodall Institute, gathers photographs from the institute's archives along with work by top photographers tracing Goodall's story of primate research.

TASCHEN

Gil Elvgren: American Pin-Ups (Sept., $39.99) by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel is a collection of advertisements and posters for Coca-Cola, Pangburn Chocolates and Brown and Bigelow calendars from the 1940s to the '60s.

California Interiors (Oct., $39.99) by Diane Dorrans Saeks showcases more than 40 homes, including residences of the rich and famous; more than 400 photographs.

Equator (Oct., $29.99) by Gian Paolo Barbieri captures the essence of the Seychelle Islands with both monochrome and color photographs.

Country Houses of England (Nov., $24.99) by Barbara and René St ltie. Illustrations convey the charm of converted barns, keeper's lodges and elegant manors.

TAUNTON BOOKS

Great Kitchens: At Home with America's Top Chefs (Oct., $34.95) by Ellen Whitaker, Colleen Mahoney and Wendy A. Jordan, photos by Grey Crawford, features 26 chefs and the kitchens that they designed for their own special needs.

Timberframe: The Art and Craft of the Post-and-Beam Home (Sept., $40) by Tedd Benson. More than 400 color photographs reveal open living spaces, quality craftsmanship and the use of natural materials.

TAYLOR

The Alfred Hitchcock Story (Oct., $29.95) by Ken Mogg, foreword by Janet Leigh, reveals the life and work of the man behind the silhouette; more than 300 photographs.

TEN SPEED PRESS

Texas Cattle Barons: Their Families, Land and Legacy (Aug., $49.95) by Kathleen Jo Ryan and Elmer Kelton, foreword by Tommy Lee Jones, documents the owning and working of a cattle ranch; 150 color photographs.

THAMES and HUDSON

Falize: A Dynasty of Jewelers (Sept., $85) by Katherine Purcell recalls late 19th-century jewels and objects from the internationally famous, Paris-based house.

Lives of the Great 20th Century Artists (Sept., $45) by Edward Lucie-Smith offers brief biographies of 100 artists including their important works, self-portraits and photographs. Advertising. A BOMC selection.

The Most Beautiful Villages of Brittany (Sept., $40) by James Bentley, photos by Hugh Palmer, explores the northwest peninsula of France in photographs and commentary. Advertising. BOMC selection.

The Houses of Old Cuba (Oct., $45) by Llilian Llanes, photos by Jean-Luc de Laguarigue, reveals an architectural heritage influenced by climate and social conditions. Advertising.

The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How They Were Built (Oct., $40), edited by Chris Scarre, studies the techniques of ancient builders who worked without the aid of modern technology. Advertising. BOMC, QPB and History Book Club selections.

TIMES BOOKS

The First Time I Saw Paris: Photographs and Memories from the City of Light (Nov., $30) by Peter Miller reflects a young Corps photographer's sights in Paris after World War II. Advertising.

TIMES BOOKS/DISCOVERY

Napoleon's Lost Fleet: Bonaparte, Nelson, and the Battle of the Nile (Sept., $35) by Laura Foreman and Ellen Blue Phillips chronicles Bonaparte's mission to conquer Egypt; 200 color illustrations. Advertising.

TONDO BOOKS

(dist. by D.A.P.)

Khaki: Cut from the Original Cloth (Oct., $50), edited by David Fahey and produced in association with Dockers Khakis, celebrates khaki-wearers with 100 contemporary and historical photographs. All proceeds benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

TUTTLE/PERIPLUS EDITIONS

Bali Modern: Contemporary Architecture and Interiors (Oct., $34.95) by Gianni Francione, photos by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, studies the transformation of Balinese architecture and interior design during the last five years.

TV BOOKS

(dist. by HarperCollins)

A Century of Country: An Illustrated History of Country Music (Oct., $39.95) by Robert K. rmann looks at America's home-grown music business. 50,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo. Author tour.

They Drew Fire: The Soldier Artists of World War II (Nov., $39.95) by John Frook, photos by Brian Lanker, is a companion volume to the PBS-TV documentary to air on Veteran's Day. $35,000 ad/promo.

UNIVERSE

New York Christmas (Oct., $20), photos by Mark Crosby, captures the holiday spirit with pictures of the city's best-loved holiday attractions; 60 color photographs and clothbound with a ribbon.

Unmistakably Mackie: The Fashion and Fantasy of Bob Mackie (Nov., $45) by Frank Decaro spotlights the glitz and glamour of the designer's creations; a companion to the retrospective to open at the Fashion Institute of Technology on September 28, 1999.

UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA PRESS

Archipelago: The Islands of Indonesia. From the Nineteenth-Century Discoveries of Alfred Russel Wallace to the Fate of Forests and Reefs in the Twenty-First Century (Nov., $45) by Gavan Daws and Marty Fujita examines Indonesia's grandeur and beauty in the face of its environmental degradation.

UNIV. OF MISSOURI PRESS

William Adair Bernoudy, Architect: Bringing the Legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright to St. Louis (Oct., $49.95) by Osmund Overby, photos by Sam Fentress, examines more than 280 photographs and 29 floor plans by Bernoudy, an advocate of Wright.

UNIV. OF OKLAHOMA PRESS

Frontier Children (Oct., $24.95) by Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith is a visual and written montage of childhood in the 19th-century West.

UNIV. PRESS OF FLORIDA

Gardens by the Sea: Creating a Tropical Paradise (Nov., $34.95) by the Garden Club of Palm Beach takes a rare look at the private gardens of this posh city.

V&A PUBLISHING

(dist. by Antique Collectors' Club)

Sh s by Lucy Pratt and Linda Woolley and Bags by Claire Wilcox (Oct., $19.95 each). The first titles in the Victoria & Albert Fashion Accessories series trace the history of footwear and bags from the Middle Ages to the present.

VAN DER MEER

(dist. by Abbeville)

The Mediaeval Nativity (Sept., $15.95) by Ron Van der Meer is a single pop-up scene of the nativity with a booklet of the Christmas story.

VENDOME

St. Petersburg: The Hidden Interiors (Nov., $50) by Princess Katya Galitzine, photos by Leonid Bogdanov, reveals secret and mysterious sites as identified by the Princess, a direct descendant of Catherine the Great.

VIKING STUDIO

David Bailey -- The Birth of Cool (Sept., $60) by Martin Harrison, photos by David Bailey, follows the fashion and celebrity photographer's rise to fame in early 1960s London.

Pug Shots (Oct., $65), photos by Jim Dratfield, compiles an album on the breed about which the American humorist Margo Kaufman once quipped, "The pug is living proof that God has a sense of humor."

The Tibetans: Photographs (Oct., $35), photos by Art Perry, offers up candid photographs of Tibetan people and their lifestyles.

Laetitia Casta (Nov., $30) gathers shots by top fashion photographers of the model seen in Guess jeans ads, the Victoria's Secret catalogue, Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, L'Oreal cosmetics ads and numerous fashion magazines.

VIRGIN

(dist. by Sterling)

Norris McWhirter's Book of Millennium Records (Nov., $24.95) by Norris McWhirter offers an array of lists, time lines and color photos to track record-setting events, with special attention focused on 20th-century breakthroughs.

WATSON-GUPTILL

Art: The Critics' Choice: 150 Masterpieces of Western Art Selected and Defined by the Experts (Sept., $40), edited by Marina Vaizey, re-creates a history as told by world-renowned art historians.

Women and Art: Contested Territory (Sept., $35) by Judy Chicago and Edward Lucie-Smith analyzes selected images of women by both male and female artists.

Austin City Limits: 25 Years of American Music (Oct., $35) by John T. Davis, photos by Scott Newton, foreword by Lyle Lovett, commemorates the longest-running music showcase on TV today.

WEATHERHILL

Japanese Design: A Collection (Sept., $40), photos by Kenneth Straiton, essay by Peter Grilli, studies how Japanese design draws on scenes and objects of everyday life, then infuses them with a power to aesthetically please.

WEIDENFELD & NICHOLSON

(dist. by Sterling)

Cotswold Landscapes (Nov., $40) by Rob Talbot and Robin Whiteman gathers photographs of sweeping vistas featuring this region northwest of London.

Pilgrimage: A Chronicle of Christianity Through the Churches of Rome (Nov., $40) by June Hager, photos by Grzegorz Galazka, reviews 40 sacred buildings from ancient catacombs to new suburban cathedrals.

W.W. WEST INC.

Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies (Aug., $35) by Christine Barnes, photos by Fred Pflughoft and David Morris, captures the magnificent castles and sprawling lodges set against mountain landscapes of western Canada.

WESTCLIFFE PUBLISHERS

Colorado: 1870-2000 (Aug., $85), photos by William Henry Jackson and John Fielder, essays by Ed Marston, Roderick Nash, Eric Paddock and John Fielder, uses a before-and-after photo format to capture changes over the last century. 30,000 first printing.

WHITECAP BOOKS

The America Series: Colorado and ...New England (Sept., $14.95 each). Top landscape photographers explore the scenery and cultures of these two states.

WILLOW CREEK PRESS

The Life of a Lab (Aug., $29.50) by E. Donnall Thomas Jr., photos by Denver Bryan, follows the life of labs from puppyhood through old age. 30,000 first printing.

Hollywood Cocktails (Sept., $19.50) by Tobias Steed remembers classic film scenes in which the cocktail received top billing. 15,000 first printing.

YALE UNIV. PRESS

American Characters: Selections from the National Portrait Gallery, Accompanied by Literary Portraits (Sept., $45) by R.W.B. Lewis and Nancy Lewis brings together 160 famous American portraits with captions that illuminate their place in American history.

Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion (Sept., $35) by Stephen P. Huyler. Hundreds of pictures depict Hindu beliefs and practices; a companion to the exhibition that will tour Houston, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

The Ballets Russes and Its World (Oct., $45), edited by Lynn Garafola and Nancy Van Norman Baer, surveys the dance, art, music and cultural worlds of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes (1909-1929).