Paris Booksellers along the Seine River
When I was in Paris the other month I spent a lot of time at the Paris booksellers along the River Seine, also known as the bouquinistes. I enjoyed looking through secondhand and rare edition books, posters and out of print magazines.
My impulsive purchase saw me carrying my antique and very delicate newspaper, Le Petit Journal (dated Sunday 23 August 1896) and ancient print gingerly around on my day's wonderings and then even more gingerly on my long haul flight home. (Can you see all the ancient Le Petit Journals clipped along the stall above?)
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Wondering whether I should have thought twice before purchasing something so delicate and not suited to traveling, I was however happy once it was framed and hanging on my home wall bringing its own piece of French history directly into my home - that's the magic of antiques!
A History of the Bouquinistes
Paris booksellers, or the bouquinistes , have history and antiquity in spades as they have been setting up their stalls along the River Seine since the 16th century. Plying their trade from Pont Marie to Quai du Louvre on the right bank (rive droite) and from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire on the left bank (rive gauche) they collectively are now considered a site and protected by UNESCO as part of French cultural heritage. The boxes were even used as secret letterboxes by the French Resistance during the Second World War.
To start with the booksellers placed their wares spread on blankets on the ground but after a while rules were made that were hotly debated with the outcome being that sellers were unable to sell from their mobile sites. This changed however during the reign of Louis XVI with the sellers welcomed again and members of the cultural and literary society supporting the bouquinistes.
The bouquinistes stocked revolutionary papers, political brochures and patriot songs during the French Revolution from 1789 to 1795 and particularly prospered when they started offering books pillaged from aristocratic libraries. 1859, the green stalls that you see today became the norm and were installed at various points along the river.
Regulations Governing the Paris booksellers or Bouquinistes
There are lots of regulations that strictly regulate the booksellers and their goods. Each bouquiniste can only own up to four boxes and only one of these boxes can stock souvenirs or anything other than books. Sellers must open their boxes at least four days a week and while they can have a family member or employee to help, they must personally man their stall at least three days a week.
Newcomers wishing to have a stall must apply detailing their full credentials including literary knowledge and prior experience in their CV to the Mairie (city mayor). Stalls must be painted in the colour Carriage Green, the same colour as all Paris park benches, antique signs and city railings.
A Parisian Institution
So when you are next in Paris, a visit to the bouquinistes or Paris booksellers along the Seine is a must if you are interested in secondhand and antique books, prints or posters. A friendly chat is assured if you take an interest in the stall and especially if you purchase your own piece of French history.
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