First bicycle rider in Australia: The Good Old Days of the Hawkesbury, being a record of facts and reminescences (sic) concerning the Hawkesbury district

Sydney: William Dymock, 1900. Hardcover. Very good condition. A history of the Hawkesbury River region of Australia which contains much commentary on the local aborigines, buildings and people, including Margaret Catchpole, the Rev. Samuel Murray and James Hardy Vaux. 'Compiled from the columns of the Windsor and Richmond gazette'.

The volume includes a historically interesting record of the first bicyclist in Australia, a farmer who lived on the Hawkesbury: "Mr. Christopher May, over 83 years of age ... is the oldest living cyclist in Australia. ... he owned a "dandy horse" and rode along Brickfield Hill in the year 1836". (p176-7). The dandy horse is regarded as the forerunner of the bicycle; it was invented in Germany, and patented in France in 1818.

The half title with previous owner name written in pencil, is difficult to decipher, but could be read as: "J. Dunmore Lang, 'Louvere', Cairns 1901".

Small 8vo, xii, 219pp, 5 illustrations in text. Later dark green leatherette with gilt title at spine. Printed paper wrappers bound in at the rear. Probably bound for Dr. George Mackaness, whose book plate "Ex-Libris Bountiana" appears at the front. Short tear at foredge of half title, early repair with sticky tape on verso. Ferguson 9632. Libraries Australia ID 48724066.