The Michelin Man Zodiac set- Who was the artist?
Here is a set showing a parody of the Zodiac, using the Michelin Man, probably printed c 1914. This block is shown in Charles Kiddle’s Letters Making Words Volume 2 catalog, page 7-9. There is a second version, with a white margin around each image, both about the same in rarity. Those are shown below, Kiddle # ZO6 group
The signs of the Zodiac are named in the common German used for the constellations, with amusing cartoons that are not easy to see at the small scale they are printed; here are some notes to help:
In No.1, the Ram is looking up and listening as Bibendum plays the panpipes. In No. 3, the Gemini twins are arguing over a drinking glass or bowl containing road hazards; similar to the first posters, Michelin “drinks up the obstacles”. In No. 7, Bibendum is weighing two tiny Bibendums with a balance scale (Libra was Latin for weighing scales)
In No. 9, Bibendum has become a centaur with bow and arrow, the traditional drawing of Sagittarius, which is the Latin word for archer. (Bogenschütze in German). In No. 11, Bibendum as Aquarius (the water carrier) is pouring water from a tall fancy vase or urn to a bowl on the floor. In No. 12, Bibendum as a Fisherman is holding his catch (the Pisces constellation), and on the right his tall fishing gear: rod & reel, net etc.
In the listing, the art is credited to O’Gallop, but I am skeptical.
Michelin Company began in France in 1889 when 2 founding brothers in France patented and began making their version of pneumatic bicycle tires. In 1898 a poster by artist Marius Rossillon was altered to create “Bibendum”, most often called the “Michelin Man”. The figure came from a suggestion by Andre Michelin, one of the 2 founders of the company.
Marius Rossillon (June 8, 1867 – January 2, 1946), known professionally as O’Galop, was a French artist and cartoonist. He is famous for creating ‘Bibendum’, however by 1911 O’Galop quit working for Michelin; he had become fascinated with animated films, as noted in Wikipedia.
That first poster by O’Galop showing the 1898 creation of Bibendum is shown below. The early Michelin Man was drawn using more and skinnier tires than now. That’s because Michelin’s first product was bicycle, not auto tires. Natural rubber tires, before the 1920’s, were light grey or even beige (seen in bicycle sidewalls sometimes even now), which is why he is shown traditionally in white. He has long since given up the cigar and pince-nez glasses we see in this poster and zodiac set. The glasses were the ‘eyes’ of Bibendum initially; later actual eyes were added to the character. In this first, the hands are shown as a human, later they became white, more tire-like.
Roughly in English the poster says: Now is the time to Drink!!.. that is to say: “to your health. The Michelin tire drinks the obstacle!” Wouldn’t it be nice if this poster had become a poster stamp at the time?– it didn’t happen.
Michelin’s bicycle tires were immediately successful in their native France and Michelin began expanding to other European countries. The Michelin Zodiac set can be found in a Swedish text version, same drawings as before: this is shown in Kiddle. Below: Swedish Bibendum copies the German version, changing only the text. But no version in French–why not, from a French artist, company, and product
With Swedish text #ZO7 group, rarity is double at 60 pts. Here he courts disaster with the Crab, the Lion, the Scorpion and Goat; we won’t say anything about the young woman. Printer credit is Goteborgs Litografiska Aktiebolag (Gothenburg Lithographic Inc).
Because there is no French version, and O’Galop had quit doing Michelin posters by 1911 (according to Wikipedia), I think this unsigned set was not done by O’Galop; it was created for the German speaking market 1911-1914 by someone else. Can a collector show otherwise?
