$1,800
Sold
sold
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Description
9"(23 cm.) h. 12"l. A three-wheeled iron velocipede with original greenpainted finish features a
seated boy rider with cloth-base doll head having painted hair and facial features,metal hands
and feet,original muslin costume. When wound,the boy pedals vigorously,the bicycle propells
sideways as well as forward. Condition: generally excellent,tin plate curved cover lacking on
works,original painted finish on boy with some fading of hair paint at forehead. Comments:
Arthur Allen of New York obtained patents for this velocipede in 1869 and boasted that his
system "overcame the tendency to upset"; the original doll was based on the 1868 patent design
of George Hawkins of New York,and is original to the toy. Value Points: rare early American toy in
excellent state of preservation.