The revival of letterpress business and greetings cards was the first intimation that paper goods were going to make a comeback in a big way. Now, that extends to cartography with the wide release of Bonjour City Map-Guides by the talented multimedia artist Marin Montagut. His four hand watercolor-illustrated, pocket-sized maps (fold out, tear resistant and waterproof) — Bonjour New York, Bonjour London, Bonjour Paris and Bonsoir Paris — are his contribution to a well-designed, tangible and practical travel tool that people will actually want to hold onto.
For cities like New York and London, he spent a month in each location scoping out independent shops, fun restaurants and bars, always with an eye for artisans. “I’m all about craft and I’d rather highlight the people in the world promoting skilled artisans than focus on places you can find in traditional guidebooks,” he told me when I interviewed him for my recent New York Times story. In Paris, that includes places like Atelier Green Factory that make terrariums and miniature gardens, or Au Petit Bonheur la Chance, a 1940s school supply store with vintage accessories for students of all ages.
Now that the guides have been released by Flammarion, Marin is rolling…
