International auction house Christie’s is set to auction off a collection of 108 Michelin Guides dating from 1900 to the present day, including an extremely rare 1939 guide reprinted in 1943 by the American Army. Collectors and food lovers alike will be heading to the Parisian auction house December 5 for a historical sale, when 108 Michelin Guides go under the hammer. The oldest tome in the collection dates from 1900, and is the first ever Michelin Guide (later known as Michelin Red Guides).
108 Michelin Guides
The Michelin brothers launched their first ever guide book in the aim of giving motorists as much information as possible when touring the roads of France, including motoring services (mechanics, gas stations, etc.), as well as places to stay and eat.
One edition set to attract a lot of attention is a reedition of the 1939 Guide, reprinted by the American Army to help soldiers find their way around the Normandy beaches after the Allied landings. Food lovers, on the other hand, will be interested in the 1923 Guide, when Michelin first started attributing stars to the establishments listed in its “Recommended Hotels and Restaurants” section. This developed into a ranking system in 1931, with the introduction of two- and three-star categories, before being finalized two years later.
This rare collection is up for sale as a single lot, with an estimated value of €20,000 to €30,000 (app.$22,472 to $33,708).
The collection will be on public display October 2 to December 4 at Christie’s, 9 Avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris, France.
108 Michelin Guides
