[CLUB DES CENT]. Historique- Bulletins- ...Paris, 18 volumes in-4 stapled, folders and slipcases. An exceptional set of the most complete collection ever described of the publications of this gastronomic club. This very elitist club was founded in 1912 by three friends, Lamberjack, Caspari and Forest, who "put together, in a small booklet, some reliable information, which owed nothing to advertising, fashion or fads"; very quickly the idea of developing it took shape, and it became the "Club des Cent". Louis Forest (1872-1933) was the Club's perpetual president. Some of his maxims, which were used to draw up the club's articles of association, are worth remembering: "Taste must be saved", "Down with gelatine", "No chemical extracts", "A cook is not a worker, he's an artist", "Anyone who doesn't keep a few good bottles behind the faggots for the connoisseurs is just a vile gargotier", etc. These maxims and others are all part of the Club's philosophy. These maxims and a few others are reproduced on the flyleaves of the first volume of our collection; they will also become the Club's stationery. With a print run of between 150 and 300 copies on fine paper, this luxury magazine was founded in early 1928 by Étienne Chiron and continued by René Millaud. The avowed aim of this club of "serious motoring tourists" was to free its members "from all the false information in guidebooks that ... recommend infamous nightclubs and unspeakable gargotes". In fact, this publication now provides excellent documentation, particularly iconographic (thousands of photographs), on the club's cultural and gastronomic activities: events and trips, chefs, restaurants, vineyards, wineries, tables served, groups and the most remarkable personalities; songs to liven up banquets; texts of speeches and addresses, unpublished recipes, and reproductions of very fine original menus (Maxim's, Prunier, Ritz, Claridge, Tour d'argent, Lucas-Carton, Normandie liner, Pré Catelan, Café de Paris, Lapérouse, Meurice, Crillon, Plaza Athénée, etc.) illustrated on the covers by the best artists of the day (Sem, Guy Arnoux, Yves Brayer, Jean-Pierre Rémon, Mathurin Méheut, Charles Martin, Louis Icart, etc.). This set includes the following volumes: Historical part (3 volumes) : - René MILLAUD (Club Archivist). History of a gastronomic club in the 20th century. I - Events. Propaganda. [Copy n°6 (of 200), printed on Arches paper, for Madame Fernande Caillat]. - IDEM. History of a gastronomic club. II- Appendices. - MARTEAU (Paul) & MILLAUD (René). Justin Laurens Frings president of the Clud des Cent... 1950. [Copy no. 24 of 87, specially printed for the Vicomte de Rohan]. Bulletins du Centiste (15 volumes); From No. 1 (1928) to No. 15 (1957-1964). All volumes are illustrated with colour figures, pasted photographic prints and numerous menus in and out of the text. A second copy of volume 13 is also enclosed. Miscellaneous documents : - N°1. Typed bulletin, June 1930. - File containing miscellaneous typed documents and original photographs, received and preserved by Madame Fernande Caillat. Together in 5 folders and slipcases. Provenance: Léon de Lyon/Lacombe (Ex-libris).