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DALLAS, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2010 Christmas Book was unveiled today by luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The 84th edition of this legendary book continues Neiman Marcus's unmatched reputation of offering its customers a selection of whimsical gifts that create once in a lifetime opportunities for their recipients.

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The arrival of the Christmas Book is considered by many to mark the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year's edition of the Christmas Book carries on the Neiman Marcus tradition of presenting a refined selection of items across a broad range of categories for everyone on your holiday shopping list. With a new collection of fantasy gifts certain to satisfy even the most indulgent appetite, the Christmas Book features exceptional and distinctive gifts and experiences, including a Tequila Avion private party by Colin Cowie, a Dale Chihuly pool installation, a gourd ukulele handmade by Danny Ferrington, and a limited edition Leica M9 camera. This year's featured car is the 2011 Neiman Marcus Edition Camaro Convertible.

The famed His and Hers fantasy gift marks its 50th Anniversary in 2010. To celebrate this milestone, Neiman Marcus presents a one-of-a-kind precious jewelry charm bracelet as one of this year's fantasy gifts. Each charm represents a memorable His and Hers gift from years past, including an airplane, a Chinese Junk, a hot air balloon, a camel, a sarcophagus, a Buffalo calf, a windmill, an ostrich, a Shar-Pei puppy, a robot, and a vintage motorcycle. Stanley Marcus debuted the His and Hers gift in 1960 with matching Beechcraft airplanes that cost an eye-popping $176,000. This year's His and Hers gift is a floating romantic getaway – the MetroShip houseboat.

First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store's best customers. Building on tradition through the years, the book has maintained its personal touch while evolving into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts.

"It is exciting that we are at the 50th Anniversary of the His and Hers Gifts that were started by Stanley Marcus," said Gerald Barnes, President of Neiman Marcus Direct. "This year's gifts live up to the time honored tradition of presenting our customers with the rare and unusual."

This year also marks the first time customers may access the Christmas Book on Apple’s iPad via the "NM Editions" app. When in Wi-Fi hot spots, customers can place orders directly from the iPad viewer.

Among the selection of fantasy gifts in the 2010 Christmas Book are some remarkable items, including:

HIS & HERS 2010

On the 50th Anniversary of our His & Hers gifts, we present the ultimate romantic retreat: the MetroShip Houseboat. With a 48-foot by 12-foot open floor plan and 7-foot high interior ceiling, it has been designed and built as an intimate luxury loft that just happens to float. Open and airy during the day with waterproof hardwood floors and double glazed windows, at night it truly glows with sophistication thanks to maintenance-free translucent thermal aluminum walls. The living area includes a next-generation media center with Bang & Olufsen stereo, high-definition projector, Nintendo® Wii™ gaming console and Sony® LCD flat screen monitor. The gourmet kitchen island features handmade cabinets, a Viking® refrigerator/freezer and dishwasher, and Gaggenau™ in-cabinet oven and cooktop. The spa bathroom is furnished with an Italian curved glass vanity, touch-free faucet and Kohler® frameless full-sized shower. Not that you'll be in any hurry to get anywhere, but there are twin 60-horsepower Honda outboard engines. Grab your boat shoes and plan your escape.

($250,000.00; page 40-41)

50th ANNIVERSARY HIS & HERS CHARM BRACELET

In 1960, Stanley Marcus created an international stir with a brilliant public relations coup: listing matching Beechcraft airplanes as His & Hers gifts in The Christmas Book for an attention-getting $176,000. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mr. Stanley's idea, we proudly present a precious jewelry bracelet like no other. Master jewelers crafted it from a one-of-a-kind collection of 11 marquise-cut diamonds. Certified fancy -- and extremely rare -- naturally colored diamonds in the collection include richly hued pink, blue and orange diamonds. The centerpiece diamonds have micro-pave settings and are surrounded by 18-kt. white and yellow gold. Displayed from a classic link bracelet with a diamond lobster claw clasp, the 11 diamond and gold charms commemorate His & Hers gifts over the years including an airplane, a Chinese Junk, a hot air balloon, a camel, a sarcophagus, a Buffalo calf, a windmill, an ostrich, a Shar-Pei puppy, a robot, and a vintage motorcycle. Only one will ever be made.

($248,000.00; page 42)

LEICA M9 NEIMAN MARCUS EDITION CAMERA

Limited to a worldwide edition of just 50, the Leica M9 Neiman Marcus Edition is the only camera that combines the classic Leica M shooting experience with the latest digital technology. It also is the world's only digital rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses and a full-frame 18 mega-pixel sensor, to capture ultra-high resolution images. It is a true connoisseur's camera for photographers that value ultra-precise manual focusing. The rugged Leica M body and matching Summicron-M 35mm f2.0 ASPH lens are finished in classic chrome. The body is covered in luxurious brown ostrich leather trim with a matching ostrich leather strap. The high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD screen is protected by sapphire cover glass. Your gift can be personalized with an engraved signature and can be personally delivered by a Leica photography expert and include a private training and orientation session. A full suite of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 3 digital editing software – and a personal letter from Leica CEO Rudolf Spiller and certificate of authenticity – are included. ($17,500.00; page 43)

THE 2011 NEIMAN MARCUS EDITION CAMARO CONVERTIBLE

The Chevrolet Camaro, the iconic American high-performance muscle car, gets a luxury convertible makeover just in time for the holidays. Regular production will not even begin until 2011, but why wait that long? The NM exclusive edition of just 100 Camaro convertibles is destined for glory. The top-of-the-line 2SS model has a ferocious 6.2-liter V8 engine and the purchaser's choice of a 426-horsepower six-speed manual or 400-horsepower six-speed automatic transmission. The NM edition Camaro convertibles feature an exclusive tri-coat exterior paint in Deep Bordeaux with ghosted stripes. The beautiful Bordeaux hued convertible top is highlighted with a silver painted windshield surround. Inside, the richly appointed interior in Amber leather has Brilliant Red accents on the center console, steering wheel, and shift knob. On sale beginning promptly at noon EDT on Tuesday, October 19, 2010.

($75,000.000; page 44-45)

TORY BURCH TRIKE

What's better than a bicycle built for two? A family chariot for three hand-built by Worksman Cycles. The uniquely American company invented the delivery tricycle in 1898 for ice cream vendors, and has been manufacturing a variety of durable bikes in New York City ever since. Better yet, this gift features fabrics and colors that have been custom designed by Tory Burch in her eclectic, sophisticated, and uniquely American aesthetic. In the back, two passengers can ride in comfort on plush bucket seats with swivel armrests, seat belts, a footboard, and a retractable canopy top. When the driver tires of pedaling a flip of a switch activates a clean energy electric drive system. A custom designed industrial-quality frame and durable wide-track tires provide safety and stability for every excursion, as do the turn signals and flashing LED pedals.

($4,500.00; page 46)

EDIBLE GINGERBREAD PLAYHOUSE

Nothing matches the childhood joy of building, admiring – then devouring – a holiday gingerbread house. This mouth-watering gift lets you expand that tradition with enough glee for all the children, grandchildren, god children, relatives, and lucky friends of all ages. This uniquely edible playhouse is handcrafted of 381 lbs. of gourmet gingerbread and 517 lbs. of royal icing by the expert confectioners at Dylan's Candy Bar®. The munchable manor, which stands 6.6 feet high by 5.25 feet wide by 4.1 feet deep, incorporates the best confections from the world's largest candy store. With thousands of signature gourmet sweets to choose from, it is both artfully designed and decadently delicious. It includes giant cookies, lollipops, gummies, mints, gum drops and a candy-encrusted roof (of course). There's also a lollipop tree inside, just for good measure. ($15,000.00; page 47)

TEQUILA AVION PRIVATE PARTY BY COLIN COWIE

A magical, memorable evening will be created just for you by A-list celebrity event planner Colin Cowie. With this exclusive gift, you can introduce 75 guests to the ultimate tequila – at the ultimate event hosted in your home. Tequila Avion is changing the way you think about tequila. Launched in 2010 by a discerning group of luxury brand and beverage industry insiders, the ultra-premium tequila sets a new standard. Each bottle is handcrafted in Mexico with the finest 100% Blue Weber agave from fifth-generation growers, delivering an incredibly smooth taste and rich character in three extraordinary varietals: Silver, Reposado, and Anejo. Guests will enjoy a gourmet culinary experience from celebrity chef Todd English, savor signature Tequila Avion cocktails from celebrated mixologist Yusef Austin, and enjoy music mixes from celebrity DJ Donna d'Cruz. Your personal keepsake: a one-of-a-kind bottle of Tequila Avion commemorating its launch, signed by the dream team.

($125,000.00; page 48)

DALE CHIHULY POOL INSTALLATION

Internationally honored artist Dale Chihuly creates breathtaking designs in glass, from room-sized hanging Chandeliers to vibrant outdoor architectural installations and glass gardens, to the Crystal Trees of Light at the White House. This luxury gift offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: a privately commissioned Chihuly art installation measuring up to 22 feet by 12 feet -- at the bottom of your swimming pool -- transforming your pool into a world-class private work of art. Drawing from the forms and fluidity of nature, Chihuly combines vibrant colors and rich textures to create an aquatic experience that is both organic and fantastic. The lucky recipient will be able to work with the artist's studio to get a rare inside look at Chihuly's creative process.

($1,500,000.00; page 49)

DANNY FERRINGTON HANDMADE GOURD UKULELE  

Since 1975, Danny Ferrington has been quietly handcrafting custom string instruments for legends like George Harrison, Johnny Depp, Keith Richards, and Chrissie Hynde. The son of a Louisiana cabinet maker, Ferrington is the music world's premiere creator of custom guitars and string instruments. For this exclusive commission, he will create classic four-string concert ukuleles, using split gourds as the bodies. Today the ukulele is the composing go-to instrument for many popular musicians as well as a virtuoso instrument for a new generation of performers. Like every instrument he creates, Ferrington will build each extremely rare ukulele from scratch, with hand-selected woods for acoustics and balance and rich mother-of-pearl inlays.

($6,000.00; page 50)

AN INSIDER'S MARFA, TX

How did Marfa, a quiet West Texas town of 2,121, become a thriving international hub for art, culture, architecture, and nature? This amazing gift offers the chance for two to immerse themselves in Marfa. A personal concierge will create a one-of-a-kind experience of three days and four nights. Art lovers can enjoy private tours of the Judd and Chinati foundations. Both were created by visionary artist Donald Judd. For culture lovers, the Ballroom Marfa converted dance hall is home for a cutting-edge nonprofit arts center. Or perhaps a private party to meet artists and home-town residents, enjoying gourmet food and local music. Nature lover? Explore the beauty of the high desert mountains from a glider. Or add an excursion to the bio diverse, 800,000-acre Big Bend National Park. Astronomy lovers can witness the mysterious Marfa lights phenomenon at night via the 9.2-meter Hobby-Eberly telescope at the nearby McDonald Observatory. This gift includes your choice of one of the nine handcrafted, limited-edition boxed print series by Arber and Sons, each featuring the unique work of a Marfa artist-in-residence, as well as gourmet meals and luxury accommodations in a beautiful private home designed and decorated by Houston designer Barbara Hill.

(Beginning at $9,500.00 per couple; page 51)

SOURCE Neiman Marcus