Secondhand bookstores in Paris?
 

I'll be looking for used books in Paris this week, especially academic history books ... in French. My googling has led me only to English-language 2dhand shops.

Is there a good area or street to start looking, especially in the 5th?

Both Gibert Jeune and Gibert Joseph on Boulevard Saint-Michel sell second-hand books. These are usually found alongside new books but are labelled as second-hand.

There's also a shop on rue de l'Ecole de Medecine that I believe sells used books.

Being as the Quartier Latin is in the fifth that is your best hunting ground for books. Try the Shakespeare and Company also. It has a lot of everything.

Here is a list of exhibitors from the 2009 Paris International Antiquarian Book Fair. If you search the page you'll find many in Paris, often with a link to their website:

http://www.salondulivreancienparis.f...s.php?artID=14

Happy Hunting!

In addition to the shops on Boulevard St-Michel, you can browse the bouquinistes at their stalls along the Seine.

I would go to Gibert Joseph on boulevard Saint Michel. Also there is a huge used bookstore at the Clignancourt flea market, but you have to hunt around to find it!

There is a secondhand/remaindered bookshop facing Place St-Sulpice. Unlike some shops in Paris, the stock is easily accessible.

On Sat mornings there is a big used book fair along the 95 bus route toward Porte de Vanves. You can see out the right side of the window

Thanks so much to you all. I really appreciate your responses, and I'll be thinking of you fondly as I browse!

There's a great book market on Saturdays and Sundays at the Parc Georges-Brassens in the 15ème arrondissement.

I spent a few lovely hours browsing (& buying) at Book-Off, a used book store which was very reasonably priced. It's located at 20 rue St. Augustin in the 2nd, not far from the Opera and the Palais Royal. EJ

With about 24 hours to go before I leave for the airport, it always pays to check back with Fodors.

Thanks for your recs., too, StCirq and elsiejune.

Look for the Mona Lisait chain with shops scattered around; they carry remaindered books in all genres, though largely focused on art books.

Pavot, keep me updated. I also have an interest in french history.

I would also go to Gibert Joseph, that's my favorite and they have lots of used books. I wouldn't waste my time going to Shakespeare and Co. for something like that, as I don't think they even have French books, let alone something that esoteric. Of course, if you want to go there anyway and it's not out of your way, but if pressed for time, I wouldn't think it likely.

Yes, Shakespeare & Co. is only good for dusty books in English.

Oh ye who blaspheme Shakespeare & Co. Out! Out!

Forsooth, thou dost protest too much, english kanigit :)

I'm topping this with an update; we're back from Paris with a bunch of books.

Gibert Joseph turned out to be the best source for us, excellent selection, easy browsing, and great prices. Ended up buying new books rather than used, though -- couldn't resist the seletion.

Thanks so much to all who responded; you made a real difference to our trip.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm always curious about what happens to the people who asks questions.

Yes, thanks for letting us know.

Gilbert Jeune in Saint Michel

expatfrance
www.expatfrance.wordpress.com

That's better for new books, not second hand books.

That is Gibert Jeune, and I also don't think they have as good a selection as Gibert Joseph. They have different niche markets, also. I thought they were especially good for kids books, but I don't really hardly ever go in there for anything any more. Now Gibert Joseph has all kinds of used books now, even novels and things like that.

I find that block confusing. The two stores have such similar names, and then there are separate stores for new books, used books, text books, music. I suppose I'd figure it out if I went there more than once every few years.

Are Gibert Jeune and Gibert Joseph related, or were they in a past life?

Yes, the stores are related. And the name of the founder of Gibert Jeune was Joseph Gibert.

there seem to be a million Gibert Jeune stores, but the Joseph one is farther up the street, more separated from those, I think. I think the one right near the SW corner of the quai street and bd St Michel near the metro/RER stop is where kids go to get their schoolbooks in the Fall or something, at least that was my impression.

I thought maybe Gibert was some big French literary figure that all these stores were named after, glad to find out the truth.

It makes sense that a bookstore with "jeune" in its name specializes in children's books.

Sometimes what makes sense is not the truth, however. According to Wikipedia, Gibert Jeune has nine stores in Paris, each with a different specialty, and none of them specializes in children's books.

The name appears to come from the time that Joseph Gibert's sons succeeded to his bookstore and then divided it into two stores. The historic store became Gibert Jeune and a new store opened under new ownership under the name of Gibert Joseph.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibert_Jeune

I love the internet.

Thanks, Nikki. Silly of me to make assumptions.