Beschreibung:

A Cycling Travelogue - Through England & Scotland 1888. A delightful description entitled 'An imperfect account of a 'Safety' Cycling Tour taken During My Summer's Holiday, August - September 1888'. A five-volume manuscript of the tour written by Dr Horace Mansell Maybury, who practised in Islington, London. The route took him from London to Land's End, and then to John o Groats, taking 16-days and travelling 911½-miles. The five leather-bound books, each 8½ x 7-inches, have a stylised title page, and the narrative then starts with a date followed by tightly-written text in black ink; the pages are gilt-edged. There are two photographs of Dr Maybury with his solid-tyred Safety Bicycle, (geared to 60-inch) with a hub lamp fitted to the off-side foot rest, travel bag strapped to the front rack, a saddle bag, and a copy of a CTC handbook. There are 906 pages in all, and on the last page Dr Maybury has listed his expenses, amounting to £11.13.10p, equivalent to about £1100 today. The books are housed in a purpose-made, black leather-covered slipcase, and the ensemble is in good condition save for a little rubbing to the spines and heavily rubbed edges to the slipcase. This fascinating travelogue will reward further research. Historic note: The British Medical Journal archives tell us that Dr Horace Mansell Maybury was born in London in 1848, the son of a surgeon, and died, aged 66 in 1914 as a result of a cycling accident, Unfortunately the archives provide no details about the calamity which led to his death. Maybury was said to be a man of a 'very genial and kind disposition'. His obituary also recorded him as an 'adept cyclist' and that 'his devotion to the wheel dated back to the old boneshaker (Velocipède) machine'. He had 'twice ridden from Land's End to John o' Groats and other journey's with his family in 1877 and 1881, and had often gone 100 to 150 miles in a day, even in the years up to his death'. He is buried at Frimley church, Surrey. DOCTOR’S DEATH. Dr. Horace Mansell Maybury. M.D., 56, Islington, was cycling on Sunday when he ran over a ball a child was playing with. He was thrown from his cycle on to his head and died half an hour later from fracture of the skull. At the inquest to-day verdict of Accidental death” was returned. (information offered by Mr G. Thursfield.)