I have passed an intriguing shop, Athanase Gribaudo Vandamme, just outside the Galerie Vivienne, piled high with dusty, old books and vintage maps, numerous times, but I never stepped inside.
Last week I passed the Athanase Gribaudo Vandamme again, and I hardly recognized it; gone were the books and in its place was, floor to ceiling wood cases, neatly stacked with vintage engravings, with each box specifically marked.In the center, there’s racks of faux marble portfolios with ancient maps and posters. I didn’t have much time, but I spent a few minutes thumbing through the boxes of engravings with glee and wonderment, also delighted by some of the categories tagged on the outside: birds, fruit, reptiles, trains, insects, and furniture. Another part of the shop has draws filled with engravings from all 96 departments in France. There is also a selection of old globes.
I wondered where all the books went, and when I looked down, there they were, encased in the glass floor below me. Next time I visit, I have to leave at least a couple of hours, so I can browse through every rack and shelf.
Athanase Gribaudo Vandamme
6 Galerie Vivienne, 75002
Comments