1888-1906.
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Softcover. A collection of 22 items, mostly trade catalogues, documenting the sport of bicycling at the end of the 19th Century and the first few years of the 20th. They span a range of sizes from 24mo to small folios in staple, string-tied or perfect bound wrappers. The catalogs tout this “year’s models” and various improvements in construction and innovation, such as lengthy description of the safety of high-wheel bicycles, or the various accessories – shoes, book carriers, bells and whistles, lamps, and spoke cyclometers available. Condition varies but most are near fine or better, full descriptions follow. From a single collector, this is as nice a collection of bicycle material as we've seen in a single accumulation. Descriptions below are chronological:
1. [Cover title]: The Springfield Roadster (Yost & McCune Patent) The only absolutely safe Wheel against "Headers" made. Boston: The Springfield Bicycle Manufacturing Co., 1888. Octavo. 40pp. Illustrated with vignettes. Illustrated orange wrappers. Spine neatly repaired, tiny nick in front wrap, else near fine. Trade catalogue includes product pitches, a catalog of parts and related equipment for sale, and featuring the 1887 No. 1 Springfield Roadster for $75. *OCLC* locates three copies.
2. Illustrated Catalogue of the "Club" Bicycles and Tricycles Manufactured by the Coventry Machinsts' Co., Limited. Coventry, England 1889. Boston: U.S. Branch / White & Brown, Stationers and Printers, 1889. First edition (stated). Octavo. 32pp. Illustrated. Glazed light blue wrappers. A little split at the top of the spine, modest soiling, very good or better. Trade catalogue. Prepared and printed for the U.S. Branch of the company. *OCLC* locates a single copy, stated "Second edition."
3. The Sparkbrook Manufacturing Company, Limited, Coventry, England 1893: Chicago Exhibition. Stand No. 86. Section G. Coventry and London: Iliffe and Son 1893. Small folio. One leaf fold to make 4pp. Illustrated. Slight wear, else near fine. Promotional brochure with images of bicycles for sale. *OCLC* locates no copies.
4. Globe Standard Wire Twist Stockinette Bicycle Suits. Cincinnati, Ohio: J.E. Poorman, Agent, [circa 1890]. Small illustrated broadside printed in red. Measuring 8" x 10.5". Old folds, faint stain on verso, near fine. Flyer or broadside for purpose-built bicycle clothing. *OCLC* locates no copies.
5. Royal Cycle Works Manufacturers of the Royal Bicycles. Illustrated Catalogue. Marshall, Michigan / Grand Rapids, Michigan: Royal Cycle Works / Valley City Eng. & Print, Co. 1893. Oblong octavo. 20pp. Illustrated. Decorated wrappers. Fine. Beautifully produced trade catalogue of bicycles and parts.
6. Remington Bicycles 1896. New York: Remington Arms Company / (Fleming, Schiller & Carnrick Press), 1896. Small quarto. 32pp. Illustrated with products and scenic vignettes. Stapled illustrated glazed wrappers printed in red and green. A bit of rubbing along the spine, near fine. Promotional brochure and trade catalogue. *OCLC* locates one copy (NYPL).
7. Victor Bicycles 1896. Chicopee Falls, Mass. / New Orleans: Overman Wheel Company / The H. & D. Folsom Arms Co., Agents, 1896. Small quarto. 28pp (printed on single sides of each leaf), page edges untrimmed. Beautifully illustrated and decorated by W.E. Miles. What appears to be slight and very professional repair at the spine, else fine. Trade catalogue and promotional brochure, with delicate Japanese-inspired design and illustrations. Rare. *OCLC* locates a single copy with one less page.
8. [Cover title]: Bicycles. Montgomery Ward & Co. Chicago: Montgomery Ward & Co. / (W.H. Hall Printing Company), 1896. Small quarto. 60pp. Illustrated. Glazed white wrappers illustrated and titled in red, blue, and yellow. A little foxing, a small stain, and a tiny nick on the front wrap, very small tear at the edge of the last few leaves, and some math calculations on the rear wrap, else very good or better. Mail order trade catalogue for Montgomery Ward bikes, parts, clothing, and accessories. *OCLC* locates no copies.
9. [Cover title]: The Empress Bicycle Co. "The Finest Wheel" on Earth. Chicago, Ill.: Blakely Printing Company, (1896). Oblong 16mo. [8]pp. Illustrated. Stapled illustrated green wrappers. Horizontal fold, else very good. Small illustrated trade catalogue. *OCLC* locates no copies.
10. [Cover title]: Gold Given Away by "G and J". 17 Valuable Prizes for Rambler and G & J Riders. (Chicago): Gormully & Jeffery Mfg. Co. (1896). 24mo. [20]pp. Delicately illustrated. Stapled illustrated yellow wrappers. Stamp of a Yates City, Illinois agent on both wraps. Small tear on front wrap, near fine. Whimsical pamphlet that assures you in verse of the many good things that will accrue to the rider of the Rambler bicycle outfitted with G & J tires. *OCLC* locates no copies.
11. [Cover title]: Bicycle Gloves. Spring and Summer, 1897. (Johnstown, N.Y.: T.J. Barclay), 1897. 24mo. [4]pp. Illustrated from photographs. String-tied printed buff wrappers. Smudging and soiling on rear wrap, else near fine. Small brochure advertising and illustrating cycling gloves for men and women. Probably issued by a one-man or one-woman business. *OCLC* locates no copies.
12. Cleveland Bicycles 1897. Cleveland: H.A. Lozier & Co. 1897. Small quarto. 31pp. Stapled decorated and illustrated wrappers, illustration reminiscent of Will Bradley. Tiny tear on front wrap, else about fine. A beautifully designed trade catalogue. *OCLC* locates a single copy, in Canada.
13. Rumsey Bicycles Season of 1898-9. North Indianapolis, Ind. 1898. Oblong octavo. 23, [3]pp. Illustrated. Stapled embossed decorated wrappers. Small chip and smudge and a distributor's stamp on the front wrap, else near fine. Trade catalogue for bikes and parts. *OCLC* locates no copies.
14. [Cover title]: New Warwick Chainless Chain: The Swell Mounts of 1899. New York: Warwick Cycle Company, 1899. One gatefold card leaf that folds to make 8pp. Illustrated. Stapled card wrappers decorated and printed in purple. About fine. Trade catalogues for bicycles. *OCLC* locates no copies.
15. Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works. Bicycle Catalogue 1899. Fitchberg, Mass.: Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works 1899. Tall 16mo. 28pp. Illustrated. Stapled chromolithograph-illustrated wrappers depicting a soldier with a rifle and a bicycle. Splitting along the bottom of the spine, very good or a little better. *OCLC* locates no copies (although they do reference a 1907 catalogue).
16. Cleveland Bicycles 1899. Cleveland: H.A. Lozier & Co. 1899. Small quarto. 24pp. Stapled and dramatically illustrated wrappers. A bit of rubbing at the spine and at the top of the front panel. Trade catalogue and advice to bicycle riders. *OCLC* locates a single copy, in Ohio.
17. [Handlebar price tag]: Equipped with Morrow Coaster Brake. [Elmira, New York]: Morrow Coaster Brakes [circa 1901]. Single card illustrated both sides in color of a boy riding a bike. Approximately 4" x 8.25". Original punch-holes and string. Fine. A handlebar price-tag, Morrow Coaster Brakes were developed around 1900. *OCLC* locates no copies.
18. Barnes Bicycles: An Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue for Season of Nineteen Hundred and One. Chicago: American Bicycle Co. 1901. Tall 16mo. 20pp. Illustrated. Stapled glazed illustrated purple wrappers titled in gilt. Dealer's stamp on front wrap, near fine. Handsome trade catalogue. *OCLC* locates no copies.
19. Olive Bicycles for the Year 1901. Syracuse, New York: The Olive Wheel Co. 1901. Tall thin 16mo. 20pp. Illustrated. Stapled illustrated wrappers. Agent's ink signature on titlepage, small ink blot on edge of last couple of leaves else near fine. Trade catalogue. *OCLC* locates a single run of Olive Bicycle catalogues but not specifying what years are held.
20. Catalogue No. 12 of Imperial Bicycles. "The Line That Pleases." 1902. New York / (Chicago): American Bicycle Company / (Stearns Brothers & Co.), 1902. Small octavo. 15, [1]pp. Illustrated. Stapled illustrated wrappers. Small ink blot at bottom edge of the pages, else about fine. *OCLC* locates no copies.
21. Hartford and Dunlop Tires for Bicycles, Carriages, Motor Cycles, Road Carts, and Sulkies. Hartford, Conn.: The Hartford Rubber Works Co. [1905?]. Tall 16mo. 30pp. Illustrated. Stapled illustrated blue wrappers. Front wrap uniformly faded to brown, sunning on rear wrap, else near fine. Trade catalogue of tires, about half devoted to bicycles. *OCLC* locates a single copy, attributing it to 1905, but it seems earlier to us.
22. Catalog 1906. The Raycycle: That Grand Prize Wheel. The Largest Selling High Grade Bicycle in the United States. Middletown, O.: The Miami Cycle & Manufacturing Co., 1906. Small quarto. 23, [1]pp. Illustrated. Stapled illustrated wrappers. Old creases on front wrap have been toned with ink to make them less obvious thus about very good. Trade catalogue for bikes and parts. *OCLC* locates no copies.
Item #437850
