I'm looking for some out-of-print books, in French, on French history. Can you suggest shops in Paris or Avignon I can try while I'm there?

I suppose near the Sorbonne would be a good bet, but does anyone have specific suggestions for reliable dealers? And would Aix make more sense than Avignon for academic-type shops?

I'm hoping not to have to go the antiquarian route, mind you ... just used books. Or as we now seem to have to say in the U.S., "pre-owned."

Any ideas?

I thought that they sold "pre-owned" books at the stalls along the Seine. In any case, it will be a lovely afternoon if you took a look and see if they're still there.

Blackduff

Never did a search such as yours. Maybe try Shakespeare & Co., Paris for starters?
http://shakespeareco.org/ George has been around for half a century.

http://tinyurl.com/3y456f

Yes the 'bouqinistes' (SP?) along the Seine are perfect for your question. They stretch for about a mile on the Left Bank from around Notre-Dame down towards Austerlitz station.

Hundreds of dealers in just such stuff - a very eclectic mix but just what you're asking for. I perused some recently.

The stalls as i call them are actually little kiosks that are unique in that they are bolted to the Seine walls and have metal tops that fold down to close them up with a lock. Hard to describe but check it out.

And as well as various outdoor markets - was at Marche Allegre, near Bastille recently and some such vendors were there as well. Lots of other markets as well.

Thanks all, for the suggestions. The letter to the NY Times held a great resource, a directory of Paris booksellers, "Paris -- Livres." Looks like I have plenty of places to start browsing for the books I want.

Thank you again.

Gibert Jeune is a chain of French bookstores, with branches specialising in different types of books, mostly concentrated around the St Michel-Odeon metro stop. Many of the branches are academically oriented and they have a second-hand books branch somewhere (although I haven't been to it). Given that it's a source for school and university books, I expect that its second hand branch would have a good supply of used French books on French history.

There are some books shops/stalls in the Calignancourt market near the metro station of the same name. Open Saturday and Sunday. It's quite a long and rambling market.

Books are quite expensive in France and older ones even more so. Don't expect any bargains.

If you get to Rouen (an hour train ride from St Lazare station, about 39 euros return), there are a number of old book shops there. Remember shops shut from around noon for about two hours.

If I remember, Lyon was a good source for old books too.

Blackduff