[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Sur le Pont-Neuf
Des l’ouverture du pont, le premier de la çapitale à etre dépouryu de: maisons, les bouquinistes y font leur apparition, au milieu des marchands ambulants de toutes sortes, tondeurs de chiens ou loueurs de parasols. Ces colporteurs disposent d’humbles étalages, parfois à même le sol, ou transportent leur marchandise accrochée à leur cou dans un panier d’osier. Ils se retrouvent vite en concurrence avec les libraires: des 1614, un certain Pierre Douleur prend à bail pour 9 ans un emplacement à l’angle du quai de la Mégisserie, pour y installer sa boutique.

[Illustration of a bookseller]

La vente de livres d’occasion déplait si fort aux libraires installés qu’ils obtiennent à plusieurs reprises, et pour la première fois en 1619, l’interdiction de la présence de leurs rivaux sur le pont, puis leur disparition définitive, grâce à uneordonnance royale en 1742.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign describes the used book sellers who walked the Pont Neuf, competing with the book sellers and their stalls on the banks of the Seine.

The place where the sign is located was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The illustration that appears in the center of the sign and shows a bookseller walking with his goods, is shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

Two other plaques from the "History of Paris" series complete this plaque:
The booksellers of the banks of the Seine Click for sign's details
Pont Neuf Click for sign's details

Translation of the text on the sign:

[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

On the Pont Neuf
As soon as the bridge opened, the first in the capital to be stripped of houses, second-hand booksellers appeared there, among street vendors of all kinds, dog shearers and parasol rentals. These peddlers have humble stalls, sometimes on the ground, or carry their merchandise hanging around their necks in a wicker basket. They quickly found themselves in competition with booksellers: in 1614, a certain Pierre Douleur took a lease for 9 years on a site at the corner of the Quai de la Mégisserie, to set up his shop there.

[Illustration of a bookseller]

The sale of second-hand books displeased the established booksellers so much that they obtained on several occasions, and for the first time in 1619, the ban on the presence of their rivals on the bridge, then their definitive disappearance, thanks to an ordinance royal in 1742.