1949 Tour de France Official Stage 1 Results Poster, Overall Race Winner – Fausto Coppi

1949 Tour de France Paris–Reims, Stage 1 Results Poster Colorful original promotional poster for the 1949 Tour de France, designed as both an advertisement sheet and a results board for Stage 1, Paris–Reims. In the center, a bright red map of France shows the whole 1949 Tour route looping around the country, with stage towns highlighted along the course, and Paris at the center. The heading above reads “Tour de France 1949” in blue script. Surrounding the map is a border of red, blue, and white rectangles, each promoting local businesses, cafés, hotels, and shops, many with Montpellier addresses, turning the piece into a snapshot of provincial commercial life in post-war France. The lower third of the poster is reserved for race information. A bold title, “ÉTAPE PARIS–REIMS,” sits above a large blank table with columns for “Classement de l’étape” and “Classement Général”, where stage and overall results could be written in after the day’s racing. The imprint “Publicité Montpellier – Index” and credit to “PIRA, décorateur” appear along the bottom margin. The 1949 Tour de France was the 36th edition of the race, run from 30 June to 24 July 1949 over 21 stages and roughly 4,800 kilometers, starting and finishing in Paris. It was won overall by Fausto Coppi of Italy, ahead of Gino Bartali and Jacques Marinelli. Stage 1, the stage highlighted on this poster, covered 182 kilometers from Paris to Reims on 30 June. French rider Marcel Dussault won the stage and pulled on the first yellow jersey of the 1949 Tour. As a result, this poster not only advertises the race route and local sponsors, it also provides a period correct framework for recording Dussault’s opening victory and the early general classification of one of Coppi’s most famous Tours. 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 fragile, thin paper. While expensive, linen backing is a conservation method used to mount, stabilize, preserve, and protect vintage posters, allowing them to be displayed or framed without compromising their value. This poster is an original first printing, not a reproduction. Year: 1949 Artist:PIRA, décorateur Publicité Montpellier – Index Size: 58 x 80.5 cm ( 22 ¾ x 31 ¾  inches) Posters are sold unframed. Framed images are display ideas only. This is a one-of-a-kind item; please review the photos carefully to determine the condition. This item is listed on multiple platforms, and availability is subject to prior sale elsewhere.