Continuing with our posts on the bookstores we come across …, Libelle mit H&B is a high-end, well-curated second hand bookstore (antique bookseller) in the old town of Basel, Switzerland. Click here to see their website in English.
It has a perfect location – Alstadt, a block from the city’s main thoroughfare – and situated at just the bottom of the cobbled-stoned street that leads up to the boutiques on Spalenberg.
IT was looking for some old books on accordion or ballet, I vaguely recall. I was not looking at books specifically instead, I was admiring the interiors. The store appeared to be have good selections in literature, art, photography, architecture, avant-garde and artists’ books.
There are two rooms on the main floor at the street level. It is not a big place – a basement, a main floor, and a first floor. The main floor has framed artwork as well as crates of books and pamphlets.
The stairs that hugs the perimeter of the space and connecting the three floors is a masterpiece – it is modern, minimalistic, and functional.
The stairs allows access to practically all the books on four walls. One stretch has rather deep treads that allow a customer to remain on a stair step while browsing the books.
At the top of the stairs is a gallery that allows one to look down onto the main floor.
Another standout is the lighting built into the bookshelf uprights—minimal in footprint, and perfectly placed to illuminate the shelves.
The lighting fixtures also provided visually a vertical element in the space, contrasting the horizontal stair steps and bookshelves.
The store gave up one half of the street-facing shop window but retains the front of the first floor.
There is a small traditional library/gallery with places to sit and read as well as space to laid out prints, watercolors and posters. You can also browse the items on their full-feature, e-commerce website, although they emphasize a personal visit.
They list the artists behind the works for sale, including Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso. The posters are from 1960-1980, average price is 100 Swiss Francs. Cash is the preferred payment method rather than electronic means.
This is the most beautiful small bookstore we have seen, combining old and new design, a version of Chris’s dream home library (including the books and artworks).
Sometimes I wonder, I seem to enjoy collecting books more than reading them as there is not enough time to read them all.
This post has been updated in 2025.