BICYCLING

Both letters are in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. 'Mrs. Chepmell' was the wife of Edward Charles Chepmell (1820-1885), society homeopathist. Mrs. Borrer' was the wife of Cary Hampton Borrer (1838-1918) of Hurstpierpoint. ONE: To 'Dear Mrs. Chepmell', 7 February 1904. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Begins: 'I find that Mr. Cranage the Cambridge secretary [Rev. David Herbert Somerset Cranage (1866-1957)] is coming down to Hurstpierpoint on Thursday & is going to lunch with Mrs.

Duplicated Typescript of 25pp., 4to, on rectos of 25 leaves. In conventionally-printed wraps by 'G. THONON. HERSTAL', bearing the title and author's name. With bookmark ribbon striped with the colours of the Belgian flag bound-in at the back. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn wraps. Dedicated on first page carries the dedication 'AU ROI LÉOPOLD | Digne fils du Roi Chevalier | un humble garde-frontière | dédie ses souvenirs | SEPTEMBRE 1940'.

A native of Derby, Scott is a notable figure in the history of the development of the bicycle. In 1878, together with George Henry Phillott, he seems to have received the first practicable patent (No. 860 of 1878) for an epicyclic change-speed gear for cycles. All items clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The typewritten draft, in blue ink, with a few manuscript corrections, covers two folio pages.

Four manuscript leaves ranging from 16mo to 4to, with covering typewritten letter, the whole held together by a pin. Somewhat discoloured, but in good condition overall. The letter, in purple ink on Lintine & Co.'s florid black-and-white letterhead, is dated 1 January 1903 and addressed to Messrs Challoner & Shaw, Solicitors, Leek. No more than a note, it requests a list of the creditors to Birch's estate. With the cyclostyled signature of 'David F. Lintine'. The other, manuscript, papers are all clearly from the Challoner archive.