Complete Set of 108 Michelin Guides to be Offered at Christie’s Paris
Paris—On the upcoming Books & Manuscripts auction in Paris on 5 December, Christie's will offer a complete set of the celebrated Michelin Guides. This rare ensemble comprises the 108 existing Guides published between 1900 and 2016, and is estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 euros. Additionally, the set includes the 1939 edition of the Guide that was reprinted by the American Military in 1943, ahead of the June 6 invasion in Normandy the following year.
The Michelin Guide - In 1900, the Michelin brothers come up with the idea of creating the celebrated Red Guide to “provide motorists travelling through France all the useful information to supply their automobile, to fix it, where to sleep and eat, and which means exist to communicate, by mail, telegraph or telephone”. While collecting multiple technical recommendations, the Guide evolves little by little. From 1923, it turns to hotels and gastronomy, with the attribution of celebrated stars, still today an international reference.
Some editions of the Michelin Guide were never published. It includes the years from 1915 to 1918 during the First World War, the year of 1921, and from 1940 to 1944 because of the Second World War. In 1945, after WWII, the Guide’s work is enormous: towns were destroyed, bridges demolished and some roads were inaccessible. However, the Guide was published on the day the Armistice was signed, and included all relevant information about the roads’ status as well as times and fees of ferryboats.
Public viewing: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 from 10am to 6pm.
and Sunday 4 from 2pm to 6pm
Auction: Monday 5 December 2016 in the afternoon
Christie’s: 9 avenue Matignon - 75008 - Paris
Image: COMPLETE SET OF MICHELIN GUIDES (1900-2016), INCLUDING THE RARE 1943 REPRINT FOR AMERICAN MILITARY.
108 BOOKS 12° AND 8°, EDITOR’S RED BUCKRAM.
108 guides in total (no guides were published in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1921, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944).
The 1902 to 1907 guides include a folding road map at the end.
Estimate: ??20,000-30,000
