A well-preserved 1900 edition of the Cyclists’ Touring Club handbook, issued in three red cloth parts and retaining original advertising material, including a folding broadside and membership letter.
Bibliographic Details
Author: E. R. Shipton (editor)
Title: Cyclists’ Touring Club Handbook and Guide
Place of Publication: London
Publisher: Cyclists’ Touring Club
Date: 1900 [1899]
Pagination: 158; 136; 69 pp., plus indexes, blanks, and advertising sections
Illustrations: Scattered advertising etc.
Binding: Three separately bound parts in red cloth, string-tied
Size: 15.5 × 10 cm
Provenance: Library of a keen cycling historian.
Condition
Very Good. Bright red cloth covers with only light wear. Minor toning and faint corner staining to early leaves. Internally clean and tight. An unusually well-preserved example of a practical guide intended for regular use. Please consult images or request further details.
Description
An indispensable companion for the turn-of-the-century cyclist, this Cyclists’ Touring Club handbook provides detailed guidance to roads, routes, and facilities across Britain and Ireland. Issued in a compact three-part format, it was designed for practical use by touring cyclists.
The work is notable for its extensive advertising sections, offering a vivid record of cycling-related commerce at the dawn of the twentieth century, including hotels, repairers, and outfitters. The survival of original supplementary material, including a folding advertising sheet and club membership letter, adds further interest. One part covers Farm House Country Lodgings and Coffee Taverns to be found en route.
Such guides capture the culture of early organised cycling, reflecting both the growth of leisure travel and the infrastructure that supported it.
Notes
A well-preserved and complete example of a classic Cyclists’ Touring Club handbook, enhanced by its original ephemera and three-part format.
A desirable item for collectors of cycling history, travel guides, Edwardian ephemera, and British social history.