A Road Book for Cycling and Carriage Driving in Maine.
Probably Portland, ME: No publisher, 1900. [2], [1]-80 pages + 7 leaves of ads. Eight maps of varying sizes. Brownish leatherette covers with title embossed on front. Ads also on front and rear pastedowns. Boards stained. Hinges loose. Foxing and soiling, generally light, throughout. Maps very good with an occasional nick, misfold or short separation. Item #3760
An early and very uncommon guide book for cyclists in Maine. Includes detailed riding directions, food and lodging information and small folding maps. The small volume has numerous ads for lodging, bicycles (and parts) and clothing for “wheelmen.”
It contains eight maps of various sizes, five of which are folding. The largest map is an 18 x 10” Cyclist’s Road Map of Maine, dated 1895. Maps I, II and III are segments of the roads along coastal Maine from the New Hampshire line to New Brunswick. In addition, there is a 17 x 2 ½” map of the Boston-Portland Route. A small, single –page untitled map of Mt. Desert is also included.
From copyright information on the verso of the title page, it appears this 1900 edition is the fourth. The first and second were copyrighted in 1891 and 1895 by Bates Torrey. An 1896 edition was copyrighted by Percy H. Richardson.
An uncommon book. OCLC identifies several locations for the 1895 edition, but none for the 1891, 1896 or this 1900 edition.
[ICN 7527.2.].
Price: $325.00