Item #2594 Pedestrianism; or, an Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century; With a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay’s Public and Private Matches; and an Essay on Training. By the Author of the History of Aberdeen, &c. &c. &c. Walter Thom.
Pedestrianism; or, an Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century; With a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay’s Public and Private Matches; and an Essay on Training. By the Author of the History of Aberdeen, &c. &c. &c.
Pedestrianism; or, an Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century; With a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay’s Public and Private Matches; and an Essay on Training. By the Author of the History of Aberdeen, &c. &c. &c.
Pedestrianism; or, an Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century; With a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay’s Public and Private Matches; and an Essay on Training. By the Author of the History of Aberdeen, &c. &c. &c.

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Pedestrianism; or, an Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century; With a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay’s Public and Private Matches; and an Essay on Training. By the Author of the History of Aberdeen, &c. &c. &c.

Aberdeen: Printed by D. Chalmers and Co. for A. Brown, and F. Frost, Aberdeen ; Constable and Co. and Greig, High-Street, Edinburgh ; Longman and Co. Paternoster-Row ; Forsyth, 114, Leaden-Hall-Street ; and Rice, 28, Berkeley-Square, London, 1813. 8vo, early half dark green morocco and marbled paper over boards, gilt spine, raised bands, marbled edges. [i]–viii, [1], 10–286 pp., frontis. portrait engraving.

First edition. Inscribed by Captain Barclay.

Robert Barclay Allardice (1779–1854), the 6th Laird of Ury, commonly known as Captain Barclay, is remembered today as “The Great Pedestrian,” a pioneer in the sport of race-walking, whose most notable feat was walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours in 1809. He began walking on the 1st of June, on a half-mile course laid out at Newmarket, and finished on the 12th of June, winning a purse of 1000 guineas, as well as side bets reportedly earning him the modern equivalent of several million dollars. His effort created great excitement and was attended by thousands of spectators. Thom provides an account of Barclay’s exploits, favorite pursuits, general mode of living, and genealogy. A chapter on training is by Barclay himself. Also included is a general history of ancient gymnastic exercises and modern pedestrianism. Inscribed by the great pedestrian himself as follows: “Capt. Barclay Allardice of Ury, to Miss Louisa, M. C. Boycott, of Rudge Hall, Salop. Maid, of the graceful mien, & sparkling eye / To thee, my kindest, fondest wishes fly. Ury 16th Novembr.”

CONDITION: Good, covers rubbed with partial loss to marbled surface, spine rubbed and partially worn through at head, foot and edges, corners bumped and rubbed, portion of leather and paper peeled away at upper left corner of lower cover, covers firmly attached, no cracking of hinges, lower corners of frontis. and title-page trimmed off, image of Barclay and frontis. title intact, but loss of a portion of ground to left of the figure of Barclay; still a solid, serviceable and reasonably presentable volume of particular interest for its inscription.

Item #2594

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