In collector's circles, it's known as "the American." Behind this code name lies a very special veteran of the Second World War: the 1939 Michelin Guide, wisely slipped into the kit of the officers who landed on the beaches of Normandy at dawn on June 6, 1944.

Hundreds of bibliophiles have tirelessly tracked it down. "Coveted? Oh yes, it is! The rare editions in circulation today can fetch up to €12,000 at auction," said auctioneer Bernard Vassy, who has sold just nine copies since 2002. "But beyond its face value, this object is an incredible witness to our contemporary history. It's quite simply extraordinary," he added enthusiastically.

If you wanted to discover this treasure trove of memories in a way other than behind a museum display case, you would have to make a pitstop in Clermont-Ferrand. This town nestled in the heart of the Auvergne volcanoes where it all began for Michelin. First there was the epic story of the removable and repairable tire, invented in 1891, then that of the first red travel guide, published in 1900 and distributed free of charge in garages to enhance cycling and car trips with good food and unforgettable excursions. For the Clermont-Ferrand industrialist, "the American" is a veritable legend, carefully guarded by Marie-Claire Demain-Frackowiak, head of collections in the company's historical heritage department.

Demain-Frackowiak showed Le Monde around a vast library in the basement of L'Aventure Michelin, the in-house museum that has been open to the public since 2009. The room is windowless, shielding the imposing collection of books lining the walls from the sun. On a long rectangular table cluttered with old papers lay a thick cardboard box "with a neutral pH, essential for preserving documents from acid," said the archivist, who carefully extracted "the American."

Reliable information

We thought it would be red like its predecessors, but no, the thick tome in front of us was the same sandy-mustard beige as the fatigues worn by GIs during the Battle of Normandy. The guide must have blended into the background too, perhaps so as not to attract too much attention from enemy snipers. On the cover were a few phrases written in English. At the top, "For official use only," and at the bottom, the details of an unusual publisher: "Reproduced by Military Intelligence Division. War Department, Washington DC."

The cover was the only real surprise. Inside, the 1,108 pages covering the whole of France were exact copies of the original version. Nothing had been translated into English. "Can you imagine how long that would have taken? In any case, I don't think it was necessary. Our guides were designed from the outset to be practical and easy to read, even by non-French speakers," said Demain-Frackowiak.

You have 81.69% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.