Bibendum cycles down a country road with a cigar lit and one leg flung over the handlebars, a man at ease with his tyres.
O'Galop (1867 to 1946) was the pseudonym of Marius Rossillon, an illustrator. In 1898 André Michelin saw a rejected sketch he had drawn for a Munich brewery and proposed turning the figure into one made of tyres. The result was Bibendum, shown in these early advertisements with a cigar. This cycling poster dates to around 1912. Impressions were printed by Chaix, Paris.
On the poster
A yellow placard on Bibendum's back reads "Le Meilleur Le Moins Cher" (The Best, The Cheapest). The bicycle rims carry "MICHELIN" in hand-lettered type. The road curves into green countryside under an orange-pink sky, with a grey milestone at the roadside. Bold orange-red slab-serif lettering at the foot reads "Pneu Vélo MICHELIN".
About this print
A digitally restored reproduction, printed on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Fine Art paper with pigment inks.

