Who has not come to Paris and stop by the book stalls along the Seine river ? This is essential Paris and we have been here since 1990, in fact I still have book and frame portraits of what we purchase from them! It is one of the wonderful walks and knowledge trip you can make in Paris and oh talk to them , they love it and will tell you many stories. I was often by here and many memorable family moments now that my parents and wife are gone (RIP), This is one of those walk that touch me hard, I have found me an older picture in my cd rom vault, and of course, it should be in my blog, Therefore, here is again my take on the Bouquinistes of Paris, part III !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Today, 3 kms of ancient or contemporary books, engravings, stamps and other journals that can be surveyed. All installed on the parapets of the high quays of the two banks of the Seine enclosing the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis: You have them in the right bank from Pont Marie to Pont des Arts , that is from the Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville to quai du Louvre, And on the left bank from the pont Sully to pont Royal or from the quai de la Tournelle to quai Voltaire, By walking near the bouquinistes or booksellers, one can also contemplate the Louvre, the Institut de France, the Hôtel de la Monnaie, the Saint-Michel fountain, the Pont des Arts, the Île de la Cité, the Cathedral Notre-Dame , the city hall, the Conciergerie, etc. I like to tell you a bit more on the bouquinistes/booksellers wonderful history and again a must to visit by while in Paris. My pic below from Quai de la Messagerie.
At the origin of the bouquinistes, there is the word bouquin, a familiar name for a book. Printed for the first time in 1459, it was then named “Boucquain” and became « bouquin » towards the end of the 16C. It comes from the Flemish word “Boeckin” meaning little book (in the sense of book of little value or little inconsistant), derived itself from the medieval Dutch means “Boek”:for book. The first appearance of the term “bouquiniste” was noted in the Trévoux dictionary in 1752, with this definition: “Who says sellers of old books, and bouquins.The exercise of the profession is then mainly male. But the term “Bouquiniste” appears under the two genres in the 8th edition of the Dictionary of the French Academy, in 1932. The current boxes were formalized in 1891, when a municipal decree authorizes the books to leave their goods at night on the place of sale which is granted to them. Until then, the books were offered in small wooden cases, easily manipulable. Around 1900, it was required that the boxes must all be the same color, called green wagon, like the first metro, Wallace fountains and Morris columns. In addition, the lid-up should not exceed 2.10 meters above the ground, so as not to obscure the view.
The few quays then masonry at Quai des Grands-Augustins, including that of Quai de Conti, for the left bank and quays of Gesvres and the Mégisserie for the right bank-and, from its completion in 1606, on the Pont Neuf. But in 1649, under the pressure of booksellers, a regulation prohibited the display of books on the deck. This is also where the most political, religious pamphlets and other scandal gazettes were selling … The bouquinistes condition evolves with the first empire and urban developments in the city. The quays are then mostly masonry and the booksellers are defined and recognized by the administration which assimilates them to the public merchants of the City of Paris. On October 10, 1859, the first specific regulation for booksellers, but has not yet been allowed to leave the goods at the place of sale at night. They have to remove their books every night. The Bouquinistes are allowed to stay and the current boxes were formalized in 1891, when a municipal decree authorizes the booksellers to leave their merchandise at night at the place of sale which is conceded to them. They can then operate 10 meters by platform. But on January 27, 1943, a decree of the prefect of the Seine brought back the exploitation length of the quays to 8 meters. Bouquinistes pay no tax or rent, but must comply with a strict regulation concerning their trade. Vacant locations are allocated and regulated by the City of Paris. Occupation authorizations are five years old. Booksellers must open their location at least four days a week, unless it is bad weather. It is up to the bouquinistes/booksellers to maintain the four boxes he can exploit. The only authorized trade is that of old books, second -hand books, old papers, engravings. Incidentally and inside a single box, it can sell currencies, medals, ancient stamps, postcards, small flea markets or souvenirs from Paris.
The Facebook page of the association of bouquinistes : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064932720523
The Paris tourist office on the bouquinistes : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/shopping/les-bouquinistes-de-paris-p3737
For reference, the official Centre des Monuments Nationaux on the Conciergerie (see posts) : https://www.paris-conciergerie.fr/en
There you go folks, a beauty of a walk always and one of the unique visits while in Paris, A walk along the Seine river and the wonderful bouquinistes is a must. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Bouquinistes of Paris ,part III as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 