Category Archives: Europe

Un Bouquiniste et Notre Dame

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The last few times that I’ve been in Paris I’ve been disappointed to find that the traditional bouquinistes or booksellers along the Seine have been slowly replaced by vendors of tourist tat. This photo from 1931 by Jean Pierre Yves Petit (aka … Continue reading →

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Reading 1932

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Pablo Picasso, La Lecture (The Reading) 1932 : The artist’s “muse” Marie-Therese Walter asleep in a chair with a book in her lap.  

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How far is it ?

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a big fan of Helsinki-based geographer Topi Tjukanov’s always innovative presentations of data from new perspectives/ This clever graphic examines just how far you can drive in one hour from twenty different European capitals.

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Bed, Breakfast and Books

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

If you visit Lille, France after March 21st, you will be able to browse a new bookstore, have a coffee, and even stay the night at Place Ronde – Bed, Books & Breakfast. The project is the brainchild of Fabienne van … Continue reading →

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Why Bibliophiles Hate Cristiano Ronaldo

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Cristiano Ronaldo, the famous Portuguese footballer, has purchased the historic Casa del Libro bookstore building in the heart of Madrid with plans to convert it into a luxury hotel. The 95 year old bookstore is housed in a beautiful building … Continue reading →

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Isn’t It Romantic

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Happy Valentine’s Day ! This beautiful edition of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s romantic poems Sonnets from the Portuguese was published in Venice in 1906. The lovely miniature book was handset and bound in vellum. H/t to the University of Iowa Special Collections Library.

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Gulliver’s Travels

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Brian D. Butler
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Mind The Gap

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who visit this blog on a regular basis already know that I have an inordinate interest in travel posters, graphic design, and especially public transport system safety posters. So it will come as little surprise that I … Continue reading →

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Middle Earth Parks

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Dan Bell is a very talented amateur cartographer who loves J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic Middle Earth maps and national parks too. He has combined his interests in a wonderful series of Tolkien-style maps of parks in the U.K. and the U.S.. … Continue reading →

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KLM Cares

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Last year I posted a story about KLM’s trial run for the airline’s Care Tag audio-equipped GPS tourist guide device. Now, the Royal Dutch Airlines has rolled-out the tiny tech travel guide for flyers who act fast. When you book a flight … Continue reading →

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