1936 Paris: Where What When How [Official Paris Tourist Guide] [Pre–World War II Paris]

Item Details

Paris:, Comité de Tourisme, 1936, Japanese paper portfolio

Very Good

PARIS BEFORE THE STORM.
Issued by the official Paris Tourism Committee in 1936, Paris: Where What When How was designed as a compact companion for visitors exploring one of the world's great cultural capitals during the final years of peace before the Second World War. Combining practical travel information with colorful illustration, it captures the confidence and cosmopolitan spirit of interwar Paris at its height.

Produced in a convenient pocket format, the guide blends transportation advice, museum listings, sightseeing recommendations, and local customs into an accessible handbook intended for foreign travelers. Today it survives as both a useful travel guide and an evocative artifact of prewar European tourism.

A CITY READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD.
The illustrated wrappers, featuring watercolor views of the Seine, Notre-Dame, and the Eiffel Tower, reflect the lingering influence of Art Deco design while presenting Paris as both historic and modern. The accompanying folding map and detailed index demonstrate the practical purpose of the publication, guiding visitors through the city's monuments, museums, transportation systems, and neighborhoods with official authority.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Original illustrated paper wraps printed in color. Compact pocket format measuring approximately 4.25 by 6.5 inches. Illustrated throughout with numerous advertisements, maps, and tourist information. Complete with the original folding city map. Stapled binding.

CONDITION: Very Good. The booklet remains tight, complete, and structurally sound. Light edge wear to the wraps with one short split at the fold. Mild toning along the page edges consistent with age. Staples remain firm. The folding map is complete, clean, and free from tears. Minor handling wear to the covers.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A LAST LOOK AT PEACETIME PARIS—OFFICIAL TOURISM IN THE ART DECO ERA
Published in 1936 by the Comité de Tourisme de Paris under the auspices of the Direction Générale du Tourisme and the Chamber of Commerce, this official guide captures Paris at the height of the interwar travel era. 

Blending practical information with colorful graphic design, it reflects the growing sophistication of organized tourism while preserving the atmosphere of an international capital on the eve of profound change. Today it serves not only as a useful travel guide but also as an evocative document of pre–World War II Paris, recording the city as visitors experienced it before the disruptions of war transformed both its daily life and its place in European tourism.

SUBJECTS: Paris, France, Comité de Tourisme de Paris, Pre–World War II, Tourism, Travel Guides, Folding Maps, Art Deco Design, French Ephemera, 1930s Illustrated Guidebook.

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