Literary treasure in a fashionable Parisian neighborhood – Librairie Camille Sourget, Paris

Dear readers, despite the recent incident happened in Paris lately, there are still a lot of great things to discover in this city, especially, when talking about shopping, nobody will not feel unfamiliar with Saint Germain des Prés on the left bank, the chic and stylish boutiques along Boulevard Saint-Germain, and the renowned literary Café de Flore, which it was once where the most legendary artists, writers and even celebrities used to hang out. Yes, Saint Germain des Prés is a district more than just about shopping, and for this time, we are going to a literary boutique, where one can find something about French history, art and literature.

A view of Librairie Camille Sourget's booth at Biennale Paris, 2018

A view of Librairie Camille Sourget's booth at TEFAF Maastricht 2018 - Showcase

Located on Rue de Seine near Mabillon metro station, Librairie Camille Sourget is a quintessential Parisian historic bookshop, which stocked with a wide ranged of precious literary first-edition books, including travel books, atlases, screenplay, and some illustrated books which dated back from 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Founded by Ms. Camille Sourget, who is a passionate about rare book collecting, after studied in Art History, Camille spent her time work and travel in numerous cities, from London to New York, then eventually moved back to her home city, Paris, and established her own rare book business, first as a ‘bookshop-apartment’, then later established a proper bookshop on Rue de Seine since 2008 until now. With the owner’s knowledge, and her great eye on great quality of rare books, the collection founded in Librairie Camille Sourget is literally like walking into a time travel machine, witness the literary glory of the old day Paris from the past, and discover the never-be-seen-before treasure that one will be amazed and memorable, to get a piece of Parisian history back home.

Piranesi, Giovanni Battista & Francesco. Works. Paris, Tessier, 1804-1807.

29 works bound in 27 volumes including 14 folio, 2 large folio, 7 folio maximul and plano

La Fontaine. Fables choisies, mises en vers par Monsieur de La Fontaine, avec la vie d'Esope. Paris, par la Compagnie des Libraires, 1723. 12 mo in contemporary red morocco with the arms of Louis de France

For me, one of the book that caught my eye, was screenplay about the legendary 18th century French novelist and dramatist, Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, which is mostly about the fantasy of love story (in French style of course) in the past, the joyous and euphoric state of mind, and sometimes pretty surreal, which people uses the term ‘Marivaudage’ to describe such kind of writing, even, the concept towards in a relationship too.

Gould, John. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or family of Toucans. London, published by the author, 1834.

Large folio in later quarter blue morocco

Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de. Courrier Sud. Paris, Editions de la Nouvelle Revue Française, 1929.

Telliere 4to, original wrappers and spine bound in. Alix.

Besides French history, Camille also curated some other rare books from around the world, therefore, in a way, one will not only discover something French history, but also something else from around the world, to experience in an eye of the bookshop owner to read her story, and, open your literary horizon to somewhere from Paris and beyond.

Image courtesy of Librairie Camille Sourget, Paris

https://www.camillesourget.com/2-home.html