Jules Rossi – Winner 1938 Paris-Tours & The Ruban Jaune (Yellow Ribbon)

This poster by bicycle maker La Francaise celebrates Jules Rossi’s victory at the 1938 Paris-Tours. The poster shows Rossi on his prized La Francaise road bike, yellow ribbon (The Ruban Jaune) fluttering in the wind, with colorful vignettes of Paris and Tours.

Rossi lit the Paris-Tours course up by not only winning the race but in the process setting a new speed record of 42.092 KM per hour. For this feat, he also won the Ruban Jaune (Yellow Ribbon). The Ruban Jaune was created in 1936 by Henri Desgrange and is awarded to this day to the rider recording the fastest average speed in a pro cycling race or stage longer than 200 km. The trophy’s name is thought to have come from a comparison with the Blue Ribbon trophy awarded to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in record time. Desgrange changed the color to yellow to reflect the color of the paper of L’Auto, the sports newspaper he edited. The current holder of the Ruban Jaune is Philippe Gilbert. (citing: Wikipedia)

Jules Rossi’s distinctive 16-year professional career also included being the first Italian rider to win Paris-Roubaix (1937) and his stunning victory at the 1941 Grand Prix des Nations.

This poster is an original first printing, not a reproduction.

This poster has been archivally and professionally linen backed. Virtually all original vintage posters of this era were viewed as temporary advertising and were printed on very thin paper. While expensive, linen backing is a conservation method used to mount, stabilize, preserve, and protect vintage posters so they can be displayed or framed without compromising value.

Year: 1938

Artist: Jacques BLEIN

Size: 79 x 116.5 cm ( 31.1 x 45.9  inches)

Condition: Good condition. Unobtrusive paper splits not affecting the image. Linen-backed.

Printer: Affiches Gaillard, Paris (offset)

This is a one-of-a-kind item; please review the photos carefully to determine the condition.