Défense d’Afficher / Post No Bills (Paris)
When I first moved to Paris 20 (very) odd years ago, I thought the indication “Défense d’Afficher” meant the wall had played some vital role in one battle or another in one of France’s many wars. I nearly even took a picture of this vestige of the country’s heroic past. Fortunately, I soon discovered its meaning is much more prosaic, as it translates into “Post No Bills”, an admonition I’d thought only existed in Saturday morning cartoons.
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If you have taken a picture of Paris on your cell phone and would like to show it off to the world, why not do it here? It doesn’t have to be super artistic–there are enough photo sites of Paris as it is–just taken with a mobile phone and that’s all!
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Thanks so much for your help!
“I thought the indication “Défense d’Afficher” meant the wall had played some vital role in one battle or another in one of France’s many wars.”
LOL!! Well you know, in a weird way I think it did! I know it was in part because of the various revolutions that France had post-1789 that the law was passed — Adam at Invisible Paris posted on it here parisisinvisible DOT blogspot DOT com/2009/08/defense-dafficher.html explaining the connection a little. I think that it is cute you thought it was because of some defensive action, though.
“… an admonition I’d thought only existed in Saturday morning cartoons” ???
I’m missing something — are you referring to the Schoolhouse Rock cartoons and the one about how a Bill becomes a Law?
I like how you caught the people walking past.
Nice “Typical Tuesday”, sweetie!
xx
K
Thanks for the thoughts and the links. Sorry about the vagueness of the rest of my text! I’m referring to old Bugs Bunny style cartoons where they would often show a wall or fence with a “Post No Bills” poster posted on the wall. When I was 7-8 years old, I had no idea what this meant so asked my mother who had a hard time explaining it and so the irony was totally lost on me. Now, traumatized and scarred for life, those “Post No Bills” bills in the old cartoons stick with me.
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul
Ah, okay, I see! I don’t remember that in any Bugs cartoons. You were an observant and curious child! What’s funny is Googling “Bugs Bunny Post No Bills” and seeing the crazy shit that pops up! Some of it is VERY non-sequitur, to say the least!
I could not find a screen shot of what you were writing about, though. I was hoping I could. I’ll keep my eyes peeled. It may come up!
xx
K
e.g. have to link this one in — makes me go “Hunh?” dailydujour DOT com/2011/06/21/faile-la-works-on-paper-6-24/ LOL. The shop is a poster shop in Venice Beach, Cali, called “Post No Bills.”