Lot 1851

Description

France, 1900 L'Auto-Velo L'Auto, 1933, in silvered bronze (50mm), by V.Scobeltzine, obverse, three heads design in centre with various sports depicted around edge, reverse, medal name with telegraph pole and wires behind and all upon outline map of France. Some score marks on reverse where the year 1933 has been inscribed, otherwise very fine.

L'Auti-Velo was a sporting newspaper first published in 1900 as a competitor to its rival Le Velo but in 1902 the court ruled the name was too similar to its rival and ordered that Velo be dropped from its title. It was from a suggestion in 1903 by one of its writers that the Tour de France cycle race was established. This race provided an immense boost in circulation for the paper which reached a record level of circulation in 1933.