CycleZine » Seen On Ebay: The History of the Tour, In Plates.

26
Oct
Seen On Ebay: The History of the Tour, In Plates.

Well hello there CycleZine readers. It’s been some time. But my absence has not been in vain. I’ve been working on several bike related projects which I will (hopefully) soon share with ya’ll. At any rate, I’d like to start my return with another installment of “Seen On Ebay”.

This installment highlights another gem on eBay France [archive link]. Something that would be at home with cycling enthusiasts and avid Franklin Mint collectors alike. I present to you, the History of the Tour De France as told in an elegant series of 12 10 commemorative china plates.

eBay France touts some pretty amazing collectibles, but I don’t think I need to say that most pale in comparison to the near complete collection we have here. According to seller “1029veronik”

RARE SERIE DE DIX ASSIETTES DU TOUR DE FRANCE EN BON ETAT SAUF LA N 9 A UN LEGER CHEVEU ET UN ECLAT SUR L ARRIERE MAIS PAS VISIBLE DE FACE VOIR PHOTO N 12 LA SERIE COMPORTE LA N 1 / 3 /4 /5 /6/ 7 /8 /9 /10 12 MANQUE LA N 2 ET N 11 ENVOI BIEN PROTEGER BONNE ENCHERE

Which roughly translates to:

A RARE SERIES OF TEN PLATES OF TOUR DE FRANCE IN GOOD CONDITION. EXCEPT THE FOR No. 9 WHICH HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE BACK WHICH IS NOT VISIBLE FROM FRONT. SEE PHOTO # 12. SERIES CONTAINS THE NUMBERS 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10/ 12. NUMBER 2 AND NUMBER 11 ARE MISSING. WILL BE SENT WELL PACKAGED.

bc8slnbmkkgrhqeh-dseqt7gwt1cbk2yobwvw_12

bc8ssiq2kkgrhqmh-dceqw2h-wdlbk2yktu3w_12

This is great. Ten plates that tell the history of the Tour.

However, where is the plate where Cavindish looks like a jackass crossing the finish line touting his sunglasses? Or the one where Contador gives old yeller laser beam eyes? Or let’s go back a bit, where’s Bob Roll? The ’82 steel workers strike that halted the TT? The Didi Senft plate? In this writers humble opinion, while these 10 plates are pretty awesome, they have missed out on some pretty epic, plate worthy moments. Not to mention when I’m old and cranks (hold your tongues), how will I tell the complete history of the tour to my grandkids with numbers 2 and 11 missing?

Perhaps my $700 would be better spent on some R&D to develop my own line of plates. Perhaps with the help of the Franklin mint.

I only hope that the hairline crack on the reverse of number 12 stays hairline or else a major event of the tour could potentially be lost forever. But for now, enjoy the rest of the pics: