many red books stacked on top of each other on a white surface
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[MICHELIN] 1900–2024. Michelin Guides. 87 volumes, in-12 (15 x 9.3 cm, 1900–1906), then narrow in-8 (19 x 9.5 cm. approx.), full red percaline cloth, later red Bradel-style board binding. A fine collection of 87 Michelin Guides, spanning nearly a century, from 1900 to 1997. The collection is complete with the exception of the first guide, an extremely rare item reproduced here as a facsimile, and the 1901 edition. Publication of the guide was suspended for a few years during the two world wars: 1915–1918, 1921 and 1940–1944. The Michelin Guide brings together a range of information for motorists: town maps, road maps, addresses of post offices, garages, etc. From 1902 onwards, the guide included a map of France, initially as a loose-leaf insert in the fold at the back of the volume, and later integrated into the main body of the book. In 1904, the guide began to feature hotels and restaurants. In 1913, the famous road maps were introduced, which established the guide’s reputation. From 1920 onwards, advertising disappeared from the guide; it was no longer given away free of charge but became a paid publication. In 1922, a rating system for hotels was developed, followed in 1931 by the star rating system, which established it as an international benchmark for the hotel industry and, subsequently, the restaurant sector. The guide’s various editions also reflect the upheavals of major historical events: the 1919 edition included Strasbourg amongst the French cities, whilst the 1920 edition featured, at the end, four pages on the victory of 1918, complete with a map of the front line. The 1945 edition was secretly produced in occupied France and reflects the extensive destruction that had taken place. ‘Founded on 28 May 1889 by Édouard Michelin (1859–1940), who was soon joined by his brother André (1853–1931), Michelin et Cie devoted itself to the manufacture of tyres for bicycles, then for horse-drawn carriages and carts, and finally for motor cars. […] In 1900, a year after the first Tour de France by car, the Michelin Guide was published, ‘offered free of charge to drivers’, with a print run of 35,000 copies. It was the first motoring guide. In addition to a technical and commercial section, it contained numerous town maps, advice on which routes to take, and lists of garages, petrol stations, hotels and various shops. Aimed at “drivers”, the guide sought their opinions and undertook to “mercilessly strike from the lists any hotels which they reported to us as having poor food, accommodation, toilets or service; petrol stations with inadequate supplies; Michelin stockists about whom they have had serious cause for complaint’. As the first modern tourist guide, ‘the Michelin’ set the standard to which today’s publishers still adhere. Except during times of war, it has been published every year, confirming the bold prophecy contained in the first edition: “This work appears with the century; it will last as long as it does.” (Alfred Fierro, *En Français dans le texte*, no. 327.) The collection comprises, in particular: – 1900: facsimile edition, Paris, 1989. 399 pp. (2 copies). – 1902: [1] folio, 624 pp., [1] folio. Several maps of major cities within the text. Loose map of France missing. – 1903: [1] folio, 672 pp., [1] folio. Loose-leaf map of France and loose-leaf notice indicating changes made to the road maps since the previous edition, missing. – 1904: [1] fol., 640 pp., [1] fol., Complete with loose-leaf map. – 1905: [1] fol., 800 pp., [1] fol. Detachable map missing. – 1906: [1] leaf, 736 pp., [1] leaf. The loose-leaf map is complete. Interior in good condition. – 1907: [1] leaf, 636 pp., [1] leaf. Illustrated with 50 pp. of colour road maps with legends. Flying map missing. Map missing between C.21 and C.24. – 1908: [5] ff., 540 pp., [10] ff. Illustrated with 28 pages of colour maps of major cities with legends and 67 pages of road maps with legends. – 1909: [5] ff., 656 p., [9] ff. Illustrated with 28 pp. of colour maps of major cities with legends and 67 pp. of road maps with legends. – 1910: [3] ff., 660 pp., [3] ff. Illustrated with 28 p. of colour maps of major cities with captions and 67 p. of road maps with captions. – 1911: [1] f, 679 [= 682] p., [1] folio Illustrated with 12 separate plans of major cities (Angers, Bordeaux, Geneva, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Toulouse). The folios of the map of France at the end are missing. – 1912: [1] folio, 757 pp., [1] folio Illustrated with 12 separate maps of major cities (Angers, Bordeaux, Geneva, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Toulouse) and 60 numbered colour pages of maps of France. – 1913: [1] fol., 732 pp., [1] fol., Illustrated with 12 insert maps of major cities (Angers, Bordeaux, Geneva, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Toulouse) and 11 pages of road maps, numbered at the bottom of the page. – 1914: [1] fol., 748 pp., [1] fol. Illustrated with 12 separate maps of major cities and 11 pages of road maps, numbered at the end of the volume. – 1919: [1] folio, 700 pp., [1] folio. Illustrated with 13 separate maps of major cities and 12 pages of road maps, numbered at the end of the volume. – 1920: [1] folio, 815 pages, [1] folio, [4] pages Illustrated with 12 separate maps of major cities – including Clermont-Ferrand, Rennes, Strasbourg and Tours, which were added compared with previous editions – and 11 pages of road maps.   A fine collection of Michelin Guides spanning from the early days to 2017. Spines are damaged; some minor flaws (annotations, slightly weak stitching, small tears, etc.).   Complete collation and condition report available on request. Bibliography Alfred Fierro, *En français dans le texte*, no. 327.
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About the sale Books, Manuscripts & Antique Engravings, including the José Luis Dotti Library
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Auction time 09/23/2026 at 2:30 PM
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