Those of us who love beautiful books enjoy few things more than the hunt for a rare volume, and few modern books are as rare or as beautiful as Boutiques.

In the roaring twenties, Paris led the world in avant-garde art, architecture, literature, and fashion. Attracting trailblazers such as Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway, the city became a magnet for bohemians, flâneurs and shoppers. As art historian James Russell explains, the shops – and in particular the shop fronts – of Paris had become something of an obsession in the mid-1920s, not only among tourists but among Parisians themselves. Architects, designers, illustrators and photographers all embraced the new Art Deco aesthetic and produced a wealth of books and portfolios on shop design.

The new book from Mainstone Press celebrates the city’s charming boutiques, whose characterful shop fronts are often depicted with similarly colourful proprietors. Originally published in 1925 by Marcel Seheur, Boutiques paired the jewel-like illustrations of Lucien Boucher with the surreal text of bohemian favourite, Pierre Mac Orlan. Snapped up by collectors, the small limited edition of 500 copies sold out on publication and is now recognised as a classic of the Art Deco period. The book was also coveted by artists, including Eric Ravilious, whose High Street (1938) owes a great debt to Boucher’s witty and detailed style.

In this new, celebratory edition, Lucien Boucher’s 37 timeless shops are reproduced alongside engaging new captions by Andrew Stewart. Mac Orlan’s original text is also included, with a specially commissioned English translation by Shaun Whiteside. In a richly illustrated essay, art historian James Russell explores the fascinating world of Boucher, Mac Orlan and Seheur, which is followed by a pictorial survey of Boucher’s Paris. We end with notes on the printing of the book by print aficionado Neil Philip. As with previous Mainstone Press titles, this will be a visual delight featuring a wealth of previously unseen material.