Cycling/ Raleigh/ Zimmerman. Original lithographed... - Lot 118 - Vermot et Associés

Cycling/ Raleigh/ Zimmerman. Original lithographed poster from 1894 depicting the first great champion of Raleigh Cycles (the man who imposed them) and perhaps one of the greatest riders of all time (in all according to Henri Desgrange, who had raced against him). "The Raleigh, A.A.Zimmerman, NYAC, world champion on a Raleigh bicycle. General Agent: Charles Bruel, 76 av des Ternes, Paris. Imprimerie Léopold Verger, 182 rue Lafayette, Paris..." In the history of velocipedics, this image is an authentic monument. And because it celebrates the first turns of the wheel of a Raleigh brand that was to become worldwide, and because the ambassador of this brand, the one who was to impose it, is also the Mozart of the fledgling velocipedie, a certain American named Arthur Augustus Zimmerman. Born in Camden in 1869, he died in Atlanta in 1936, and quickly became known as the "Flying Yankee". He was a sprinter of 1m80, with prodigious leg speed, who between 1890 and 1902 racked up hundreds of victories and titles. We pick him up here at the end of 1893, in this striking work at the peak of his art, because a few months earlier, in Chicago, at the age of 24, he had won two of the first three amateur world titles in history, in sprint, and over 10 km, please, and so, he was about to leave for Europe haloed by unprecedented prestige... The world title was a sensational discovery, coming from the new world, on a solid machine, while in Europe, manufacturers were groping their way. It was the golden age of velodromes, "athletic theater with pedals", as Davin de Champclos put it. And Zim l'éclair, the Gothic, the winged foot, was about to strike journalists, racers and spectators alike... Here, we have his look, his draw, "his bird's breastbone" and a class and power contained and unknown to this day: he is ethereal, combining speed and perfection. Journalists, sceptical for a moment when they saw him in civilian clothes, not looking like much, fell under his spell as soon as he climbed aboard his Raleigh and took it for a spin... In 1893, as an amateur on his first tour, and in 1894 as a pro on his second, crowned with world titles, he continued to score 100 victories a year (!!!).Between pianos and coffins, amateurism obliged, he collected mountains of abracadabran prizes. He inspired writers, subjugated his opponents, Desgrange in particular, because he was left "on the spot". In short, the first phenomenon in the history of the sport is right there in front of you, hands steady on his telescopic handlebars, taking it all in... on his 12kg Raleigh, with a development of 5m35 (17x7), covering the last 200m in 12s. Cottereau, Médinger, Barden and others were ridiculed... For his comeback in 1902, he lost his magic, but when he died in 1936, Desgrange mourned him, and Coquelle wrote, "the name of Zim is immortal", like that of Coppi. Zim still fascinated our friend Jean Bobet. Framed, 79.7x62....Perfect condition, two minor repairs to upper and lower left corners, lacks half-confetti to right. With the two central swallows in the margin...Extremely rare, and essential, piece for Museum in action.