71 - MICHELIN - c.1920

MICHELIN - c.1920 A rare and significant original lithographed advertising card cut into the shape of the Bibendum. Made from strong, thick, and particularly sturdy cardboard. Large size: 120 x 87 cm. “Imp. H. Bouquet—Paris. Made in France” Retains its beautiful original colors; there are a few perforations along the edges and slight signs of wear. There are creases at the ankle, lower abdomen, and left index finger, a tear at the right wrist (all of these areas have been reinforced on the reverse with hardboard supports), as well as a V-shaped loss of material above the skull. These signs of aging, inherent to its age, in no way detract from the exceptional nature of this major work. In 1886, André Michelin and his brother Édouard Michelin took over the family business, Barbier-Daubrée. On May 28, 1889, in Clermont-Ferrand, the company’s name was changed to “Michelin et Cie.” Puy-de-Dôme/Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes AI-generated atmospheric photo, provided for illustrative purposes to help appreciate the object’s proportions in context. Only the original photographs are authoritative. The black-and-white photographs, not included in the sale, illustrate the lot and form an integral part of its description (excerpt from the book “More Than a Century of Michelin Objects,” Volume 2, by Gilles Dutto).